Corbyn / BBC declare social class of employees?

What is ‘the right background’ ?

But they are not necessarily always the best person for the job Oldwoman They just have the requested( but not always relevant) qualifications and come from the right background.

But would she get to where she is today had she been born in the 80's or 90's JaneA which is the point Alan Milburn was making.

Back in the 50's /60's (even 70's) a young person leaving school with little or few academic qualifications could still go on to do a good apprenticeship. They could perhaps get a job in the civil service (especially if they knew someone working there which is how it tended to work) . They could then go on to climb the ladder and do very well for themselves. These days one needs at least 5 good GCSE's for anything at all, which leaves what for those without academic qualifications?

What does a persons "class" have to do with anything. Surely the only criteria should be if they are the best person for the job

Exactly trisher .

She was born in 1957 janeainsworth so not really appropriate to show what is happening today

Of course I realise that Winifred was born in 1957 Trisher and Gilly, but the point is that she's working for the BBC now. I assumed from the OP that Corbyn wants to reveal the social class, background etc of current employees.

My real point was that I don't care what their background is. I just want them to be good, and fearless, at their job.

I didn't know about Sarah Smith's background either. I think her rasping, gravelly voice isn't suited to radio and distracts from whatever it is she's trying to say.

And the point is that if there is bias towards wealthier and privately educated people in a publicly owned media outlet we should at least know about it. And actually the lack of opportunities for clever and talented young people will impact on society, because if they are unable to access the jobs they are qualified and able to do they take up the jobs gillybob is describing or turn to other methods of making money. In any case what results is a larger number of unemployed able people and possibly a better educated criminal class.

Bit if you mean “*socio-economic background, trisher* why not say so.
Social class is a much more emotive and inflammatory term.
Perhaps just an effective bit of (non-news) PR?

Think Sarah Smith for instance ,you might not know her down south but she is the daughter of the late John Smith

Well, I never knew that!
Yes, I and many down south (or west) do know who she is as she is on the news quite a lot.

Where would Corbyn place himself in the out-dated class system then?

I always thought he was 'upper middle class' - at least in the old days.

"Who Do You Think You Are"
You may be surprised

You would be surprised, there are many around here who consider themselves better than I just because they live in a large house and have a bit of money!!! I am better educated and better read than they. So who's who?

Of course he does Annie .

I agree GrannyGravy

corbyn wants to kick off a class war, get the student activists votes.

gillybob I was referring to the people who have no interest in working. I am from the SE and I can assure you these people do exist, and they do play the benefit system. Unfortunately I have experience of this with an AC ex partner, who thought they had hit the jackpot with AC, who got wise and ditched them.

I agree with your point about the menial jobs now requiring GCSE's to get on a training course or apprenticeship. In our area we are fortunate to have some 'technical colleges' this is the only way I can describe them, they have places for young people who have not got the relevant exam results, and help them with practical training and NVQ's. They also have contacts within the workplace and help them into employment.

In every society there always those who do not want to contribute, they just take.

There are plenty more similar examples paddyann

She was born in 1957 janeainsworth so not really appropriate to show what is happening today. She may be a lone example. And one individual doesn't truly represent what it is like in the Beeb.
As for the 'social class" it may be an unfortunate term but it is difficult to say what you are making a speech that you would like to know the socio-economic background of people working for the BBC, if they had a private education, and which university they attended .

I think that is the least important part of what he said. He wants fair taxation, for the BBC to be funded in a different way and for it to be unbiased and in the latter respect the public will vote for Board Members rather than them being appointed by the government
That is as may be Jaycee But not what OP was drawing attention to! .

She was born in 1957 though JaneA so missing the point. Would Winifred Robinson have succeeded if she was born in 1980 - 1990 ? would she have even made it into the BBC ?

I think he may have a point but he's going about it the wrong way .Look at news reporters for instance,we have several who are from backgrounds where having influential parents got them the job not ability .
Think Sarah Smith for instance ,you might not know her down south but she is the daughter of the late John Smith and hasn't an impartial thought in her head.If something can be spun she'll spin it .Information from the BBC should be just that NOT Ms Smiths personal opinions on political parties or independence .
There are others ,certainly Scottish reporters who are the same ,one who was full of glee that the tories had won back seats at the last GE and was seen onscreen jumping up and down and shouting we're winning!! Now to my mind the FACTS are what we should get nothing else .Its not their job to influence voters .

Oooops good grade, not good grace.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winifred_Robinson

Winifred Robinson was born in Liverpool, her father a docker and her mother a housewife. She was one of eight children.

Impeccable working-class background, but she is clearly middle-class now, simply by virtue of her education and her job with the BBC.

I hope and imagine that Winifred got her job on merit alone.
I hope very much that no-one becomes employed by our national, public service broadcaster either in spite of, or because of, their background.

In this era of fake news I want broadcasters with perception, courage, honesty and integrity.

I couldn't care less about their social class.

Total rubbish. If they get in and follow this sort of thing we are only a step away from the Khmer Rouge and sending people with glasses to work in the fields because they must be the despised 'intellectuals'. The present Labour leadership have lost all contact with reality - to my deep annoyance being a supporter of fairness and justice for all.

Oh GrannyGravy13 There is no "manufactured" class at all.

The traditional (mainly menial) jobs done by those who are considered non-academic have long since disappeared. The craft based jobs traditionally done by those non-academics all now require 5 good grace GCSE's , so I ask you what is left?

A little more openness about incomes might have meant women who work for the BBC getting equal pay with men a little sooner.It is after all over 100 years since the women's suffrage movement asked for "Equal pay for equal work". They may have got the vote but there are still things to acheive.