The people who have everything also run everything.

Yet many people did and do study although their stomach is rumbling. People in the public eye who have made it in the world are always telling everyone how deprived their childhoods were, yet they succeeded.

Many of those now in what are called 'the middle classes' have/had parents or grandparents who worked in manual jobs in factories, the railways, labouring etc etc.

Mine and my DH's experience is of families, some of whom were disadvantaged, where money was close to non-existent and not eating a real and present threat and others just worked in factories yet moved themselves up the social scale by taking every opportunity that came within a mile of them, being very good at their work so that promotion came there way and encouraged their children to do well at school and to stay in education as long as they can.

Ignoring all the evidence that shows that social mobility is and always has been there for those who are bright, work hard and find their own opportunities, doesn't make it less true. It fluctuates from time to time and recent governments of both hues have done their best to reduce it, but still people get through. This is not a black and white issue as so many want, but like most things comes in many shades of grey

A friend, who had a 'privileged education' unlike DH and me, observed that a result of it was confidence in oneself and in the way one presents oneself to the world.

There are many who succeed well in life, even though they have been brought up in poor housing or having been educated in the worst schools.

However, that often involves gaining qualifications by way of life long adult education, which can be an extreme struggle when working long hours and while raising a family.

Those born into wealth and privilege do not have the above problems and therefore, education in the best schools and universities can easily be obtained. Such persons also have the advantage of meeting others of similar privilege, and high confidence can be gained through that.

Therefore I believe that anyone can succeed in Britain, but it is much easier if wealth and good education are provided from the first start in life.

However, I believe that the first of the above two groups always make the optimum of their success, and that is then to the benefit of all.

If I was a university I would always give first consideration to an applicant who had not been spoon fed from the start of his education, whose ability alone had allowed him to achieve the sort of results he needed to read at degree level the subject of choice.

But it simply doesn’t end there although it is a good start, but a child from a privileged background will have many contacts and keys to doors that ensures employment in positions of power etc. Something that is not nearly so easy for those of a less privileged background.

But I suspect - particularly judging by the examples we have recently seen, that individuals from such privileged backgrounds are mediocre to put it kindly. Those who have achieved by their own steam will be so much more to give and the savvy to achieve it.

Universities are very tempted by privilege though, because it brings in the cash. In effect parents buy their child’s privileges, even at degree level.

Those "first class brains" in the Conservative cabinet don't seem to be able to apply their alleged superior intelligence to sorting out the Brexit mess, which their party instigated, or protecting our most valued services.

Indeed, they have been very proficient in creating and encouraging division, discontent and a general feeling of economic and social malaise. Well done, you clever people!

Eloethan, my sentiments too though I was shot down in flames.

A line from one of my favourite songs....Humble and Kind by Tim McGraw

.....When you get where your going, don’t forget to turn back around.

Help the next one in line and always stay humble and kind.

If only, gillybob !

Can somebody explain to me why is a wealthy Tory MP different to a wealthy Labour MP?

Why is an educated Tory MP different to a well educated Labour MP.

Apart from class warfare I see nothing wrong in Parliament being a mixture of backgrounds .

This is the 21st century and Parliament reflects that from MP's serving ' both ' sides of the House .

??

The original post was about social mobility, and we can all quote incidences of people we know, or indeed ourselves, who have bucked the trend and done better than our parents. The fact is that although it was easier in the past, in modern day Britain, particularly over the last 5 years it has become a damn sight more difficult. If anyone can be bothered to look at the bigger picture and read the Social Mobility Report 2018/19 they will find this to be true. A quote from their report social mobility is not just about children from council estates becoming CEOs We want to reduce the social mobility "Power Gap" where those from better off backgrounds not only earn more money but control the lives that shape our society. To me this is the crux of the matter. Power continues to be invested in a few, who are the most privileged but not the most talented in our society. Just take a look at our politicians if you doubt this.

And the likes of "Sir" Phillip Greene proves that you only need to get lucky, schmooze like-minded FatCats and abandon scruples, compassion and any sense of humanity in general and it's your lucky day!

(It also helps things along if you put all assets in your spouses name as they happen to live in Monaco and raid a failing department store chain's pension fund whilst your at it......before flogging it to a bankrupt for a mere quid).

I would never vote Conservative.I always believe for the many not the few.I have money but help charities and strongly believe that we should help people less fortunate.I am very grateful that i can afford four holidays abroad to Mauritius Canada America Australia New Zealand but i always put something back and give my time to help those less fortunate

It's big business that runs the world, not politicians.
And many top business people have drive and ambition, but not necessarily the 'privilege' of a top education.

Perhaps you could send me a cheque ( or a parcel) Houndi
?
I would appreciate even one of those holidays.

Good post POGS .....if an alien landed and read GN it would imagine all wealthy and well educated people were
Conservative MP’s, Conservative voting business people and Conservative voters to a man/woman.?

Lazy stereotyping going on.

I agree re Phil Green Margs - however, the difference is that some people are risk-takers and others are happy to plough along in the same furrow all their lives.

Am I looking back through rose-coloured glasses in thinking that it used to be accepted that every child, whether parents were rich, poor, hard-working or feckless, however many siblings they had, had a basic right to a home, to adequate food, to medical care and a decent education?
With that, we could reasonably say that people make their own success or failure.

Oh come on .Ezybee. Are you really convinced that those who go to Oxford and Cambridge all have first class brains. Prince Charles went, I believe he failed Maths GCE, even though someone would have been practically standing over him, guiding his pen.
Boris went to Eton and Jeremy to Charterhouse......you are not telling me that there are no first class brains in Kirby Comp in Liverpool.
Surely having being to these posh fee paying schools makes it a doddle getting in to Cambridge or Oxford.
Fee paying schools have the small class sizes to teach to pass exams.
I know that Boris and Jeremy are bright ( upper second for Boris, First for Jeremy) but I am not sure managing the county is all about having one type of brain, that can pass exams.
Prince Edward
Educated: Gordonstoun, head boy
Qualifications: nine O-levels, three A-levels (English C, history D, politics D), 2:2 degree in history, Cambridge.
How did he get into Cambridge I wonder.

Those who have everything run everything is mostly true but not entirely true. They also say man plans God plans too. I think that’s true. If you look at the number of times humans nearly accidentally destroyed the planet ( nuclear experiments, investigating black holes, military accidents, virus / bacteria/ disease experiments , etc it does look like a higher force stepped in to save us! Similarly those ‘have it’s’ plan but strange things happen. People die, lose their marbles, empires fall apart, climate changes , it doesn’t all go according to their plan. Also people come from nowhere , nothing , become very powerful voices and shine ! Look at Greta Thunberg, Alexandria Ocasio Cortez a thorn in Trumps side like an exploding fountain of truth in a time of such hubris and lies. I think some people shine wherever they come from and everyone has a chance . I was a poor single parent struggling to make ends meet and yet my daughter has a PhD and already part of the global team grappling with keeping nuclear safe because it has massive potential to finish us off altogether making all other issues irrelevant. So some people will make it because they work hard , not because they were rich , some rich people have kids who die of drugs and miracles do happen.

One thing a private education does is instil confidence. Doesn't matter if you have the skills to back it up, believe that you can and others will too. One of the major reasons that we as a country are in such a mess. Good exam results can be the result of hothousing and cramming. Little indication of ability. Speaking as someone who passed a math paper harder than A level but never got around to learning the times tables. A Oxbridge degree proves little.

Agree with you Elianne, there's a lot of it about.

Also people come from nowhere , nothing , become very powerful voices
Yes, for good but also for evil!

pogs missed the point again!

We are talking about privilege, not political parties. As it happens the Tory party have, at the moment a lot if incompetents who largely went to a common fee paying school and university, as a result of their parents wealth rather than their ability.