Keir Starmer's definition of working class

Who writes a cheque nowadays?

Keir is a bit behind the times.

What’s the matter with working class?. Isn’t it those that keep this country and economy going. The shop workers, the bus drivers, the van drivers who delivered shopping all through Covid when teachers wouldn't work, the doctors surgeries were closed. Are working class to menial to bother about?

That's just what I was about to ask, Calendargirl 😆

I can't really get excited about most of the odd things politicians say.

But I wonder if he has in mind those 4 million plus people who are living in poverty in the UK? It would be good to think that at least some politicians recognise that they exist (and might even need some help)

I don’t think Starmer used the term working class M0nica, he defined working people as those who can’t afford to write a cheque when they get into trouble.

His father was a toolmaker.

Cheque? What planet is he on? Haven't used a cheque for years and years.

I can't really get excited about most of the odd things politicians say

Good philosophy

I wouldn't be able to write a cheque as I don't think I have any.

Yes Sago, he never misses an opportunity to remind us. And his mother was a nurse.

This latest statement is worrying. He talks a lot about ‘working people’. Now it seems that phrase means ‘people who have nothing’.

Starmer made no mention of 'class'

all through Covid when Teachers wouldn't work , Allsorts ?

No, having nothing means you have to depend on the state or begging for day to day expenses like food, shelter, clothing etc.

Working people are often able to provide the basics for themselves and their families but can't afford anything beyond this.

I think he means (I haven't witnessed him saying it) people without savings, or that bit of extra cash they have left over from their wages for more than the basics.

There are more and more people like this.

But almost evryone is a working person. Almost everyone is dependent on the money that comes in each month.

Senior lawyers often work long and demanding hours as do doctors, head teachers, are they not working people?

I do think the way politicians and other people throw these silly definitions around is ridiculous. They are as full of holes a s sieve and in this modern age with the wide range of occupations people have and the justifiable high earnings commanded by some technically qualified people, i really is time we stopped using them.

Allsorts: all through Covid when teachers wouldn't work,
Check your facts.

westendgirl

all through Covid when Teachers wouldn't work , Allsorts ?

Not how I remember Covid. We had to reinvent ourselves as experts in online teaching apart from when we were actually in school with the children of essential workers.

Sago

His father was a toolmaker.

No way! 🤣😝🤣😝🤣😝

Listening to SKY news,. ‘working people’ no mention of class,
O/P is quoting The Times !

I wouldn’t vote for him in a fit personally. Good job I can’t. As for his Conservative opposition- nah. Good luck with him as PM.

I agree with you, MOnica.
Working people are people who work and are earn money proportionate to the value of their skills.
Whether they have money available to save has nothing to do with being 'working people,' defined by Starmer as
"People who earn their living, rely on our (public) services and don't really have the ability to write a cheque when they get into trouble."

The first thing Starmer could do is examine the extortionate fees solicitors charge for their services without which so many transactions cannot be completed: house sales, wills, divorce, etc. which affect most people whatever their status.

He is quoted in the DT as referring to 'working people' which in my definition is everyone who works and earns money for it.

Including those solicitors eazybee. Who are not charities.

Since when does ‘working people’ - a favourite Labour phrase - mean people with zero cash for emergencies?

If they mean ‘low earners’ or ‘people living from paycheck to paycheck, why can’t they just say so?

Personally I’m sick to death of hearing ‘working people’ - many people who earn enough or plenty are still ‘working’!

I'm starting to feel sorry for Starmer (and that's something I never thought I would say). He doesn't seem capable of saying things which come over well. There is so much he could use to defeat the Tories in every speech and discussion.
This for example should have been phrased as "the working poor" those who have nothing left for emergencies who struggle to make their money last to the end of the month.

There are families like this in the traditional working class and in the middle class. The middle class are in a slightly better place because they can be helped by parents or grandparents.

Starmer needs an Alistair Campbell to sort him out.

I listened to the Nick Ferrari interview with Keir Starmer on LBC when this came up.

The conversation went something like this:
NF- tax, tax, tax, tax, tax!
KS - we won’t put up tax for working people.
NF - what’s a working person? Simon Cowell’s a working person.
NF continued pushing for a ‘definition’ of ‘working people’.
KS - I would define a working person as someone who can’t just write a cheque when an unexpected bill comes in.

I’m sure he didn’t use the term ‘write a cheque’ as literally write a cheque - it’s a term commonly used to convey that there isn’t spare money readily available - which I think he went on to say.

There was no mention of working class in this interview. I don’t know how it’s being reported in the Times but that’s the discussion that I heard yesterday morning on LBC.