Polly Toynbee.

Polly Toynbee did 8 month’s work in total in cafes, factory and so on and was so thrilled with herself for doing it that she wrote a book about working life.Then got a journalist’s job of course, it’s easier to write about it than to do it for any length of time, she praises the working man/ woman as long as she doesn’t have to do it much herself.She sent two children to private schools in spite of saying how wonderful the state schools are.A champagne socialist if ever there was one.
Diane Abbot a similar type.

I agree with Oreo, she’s yet another Champagne Socialist. So I have no time for the likes of her.

Given what Harry and Meghan have done since they left the royal family, I’m not at all convinced that Meghan ever had even the slightest intention of becoming a working member of the royal family. It’s my opinion that she had a game plan all along, to become famous and to become rich, preferably in Hollywood. Fine. What I despise is the way she’s chosen to do it.

I’m not even a royalist. One day we should become a republic, not in my lifetime though, I suspect. But because I would support becoming a republic, I don’t for that reason automatically think royal family = bad, Meghan = good. Clearly she doesn’t equal good, based purely on her actions which have been nothing short of despicable.

I agree with Oreo too. Polly Toynbee = champagne socialist. Or as my grandmother would say, she’s a do as I say, not as I do sort of person.

Oreo

Polly Toynbee did 8 month’s work in total in cafes, factory and so on and was so thrilled with herself for doing it that she wrote a book about working life.Then got a journalist’s job of course, it’s easier to write about it than to do it for any length of time, she praises the working man/ woman as long as she doesn’t have to do it much herself.She sent two children to private schools in spite of saying how wonderful the state schools are.A champagne socialist if ever there was one.
Diane Abbot a similar type.

Archetypal champagne socialist, IMO.

She's obviously intelligent and writes well in the Guardian but she is ideologically driven on the Left so I read her with caution, just as I read any political journalist in the Right leaning newspapers. I find her more negatively inclined on TV than in the press but that's just my view.

Luckygirl3

Well - they did fail at being inclusive. The were completely unwilling to bend - they expect the spouses who join their family to buy into the dysfunction, rather than recognising that these spouses have come from the real world.

They also failed to protect her from the press intrusion.

Well - they did fail at being inclusive. The were completely unwilling to bend

How do you know this? From one sided stories?

Yes, spouses who marry into the working part of the Royal Family do generally become part of the work force unless they withdraw as some have done. As Meghan was fully aware of this and was trained for months before her marriage in wat would be expected of her role, they both had plenty of opportunity to withdraw too before a showcase wedding, expensive refurbishments of the cottage (sic) and hitting the ground running.
With privilege comes duty. Unfortunate for them but true.

If the Monarchy survives in the future or not, Meghan and Harry are now irrelevant.

Witzend

Oreo

Polly Toynbee did 8 month’s work in total in cafes, factory and so on and was so thrilled with herself for doing it that she wrote a book about working life.Then got a journalist’s job of course, it’s easier to write about it than to do it for any length of time, she praises the working man/ woman as long as she doesn’t have to do it much herself.She sent two children to private schools in spite of saying how wonderful the state schools are.A champagne socialist if ever there was one.
Diane Abbot a similar type.

Archetypal champagne socialist, IMO.

What is a champagne socialist?

" Meghan had loads of encouragement and support and public applause..." Really?? The foul right-wing tabloids were against her from the start and determined to portray her as badly as they could. The racism she endured was horrendous.

Clawdy

" Meghan had loads of encouragement and support and public applause..." Really?? The foul right-wing tabloids were against her from the start and determined to portray her as badly as they could. The racism she endured was horrendous.

The tabloids were also against Kate for a much longer time and picked her and her family to pieces.

I thought the tabloids were nauseatingly pro Meghan!

A champagne Socialist professes to be a staunch Labour supporter but votes Lib Dem, or Green, (tactical voting);
who sends their children to state schools, but only those with select catchment areas;
who was horrified when the local comprehensive considered going grant maintained until they discovered proposed boundary changes meant that children from a notorious council estate would be admitted to the school, whereupon grant maintained (control over admissions) suddenly became acceptable;
who deeply disapprove of private health care until they need an operation, and says, and I quote: I have had two holidays this year spoilt because of my medical complaint / postponed operation, and I am not missing my third;
or: I deeply disapprove of private health care and wouldn't use it but my husband has BUPA care through his work and insists I have to use it;
a person who puts the life savings of his father, who lived in a subsidised council house all his life, into an offshore account in his name so that 'when he needs to go into care he won't have to pay any fees', and boasts openly about it.
All the above are completely true and all live within spitting distance.
Basically, well-off hypocrites.

Whitewave - I see myself as a champagne socialist. I’ve worked hard from 17-62 when RA meant I’d to finish work 2 years earlier than I planned. Lucky me with my Gold Plated public service pension, that alongside paying in extra and saving as well means if I’m really celebrating I drink champagne.

Somebody please tell me what's wrong with being a champagne socialist? Coming from a privileged background she could easily have been a Tory. She actually went to Holland Park comprehensive, having failed her 11 plus.

I find it interesting that middle class lefties who are Socialists or Liberals should be castigated for the left wing leanings whilst at the same time they have money to spend. I'm not aware of any who say you should do this whilst I do that. They want to help people improve their lives, work, childrens' education etc etc. What's so wrong with that?

Dinahmo, absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to help people improve their lives, work, children’s education etc etc. it isn’t something we have seen demonstrated by the Tory party over the last 12 years. It seems to me there’s resentment and jealousy towards successful lefties, or those like Toynbee who grew up with a degree of privilege

Exactly, Dinahmo and Iam64.

I have no brief for Polly Toynbee and no opinion on the original article, but for clarity:
Polly Toynbee is a Liberal Democrat, not a socialist.

GrannyGravy13

paddyann54

I'm hoping they'll all be shown the door a lot sooner than 25 years .What DOES it take to get the blinkers off about these parasites ?

Once you call human beings parasites you have lost the argument Paddyann54

There are people I would label as parasites, possibly ex boss of Persimmon who was taking away £40,000,000 whilst his company's builds were often collapsing around the ears of those who purchased them, constantly complaining that Persimmon did little to rectify their faults. Health chiefs who quit on enormous salaries having failed miserably only to head up another trust at an equally large salary, really just anyone who fails upwards and there would be a few. Added to those all the people who got contracts apropos of Covid and made off with outrageous amounts of public money, energy company bosses whose firms collapsed again they still had millions in their back pocket. Parasites all and no culpability.

I'm not an avid royalist, neither am i wildly anti, it's hard to quantify how much their good works counter- balance their privilege, born into a life not of their choosing. In fact many would regard living within such strict parameters too much of a price to pay. I don't regard Charles as a parasite, something of the patrician air about him maybe,? but parasite no!. He started the Prince's Trust the testaments of many beneficiaries, I believe Idris Elba was one, have stated that help was a pivotal life changer., So even if helped just one individual, from a disadvantaged background, on to a successful career path that would be worthwhile, but what in fact that was dozens, hundreds, thousands even, then that initiative alone is enough to say that his contribution on this earth has been worthwhile.

Just my opinion, others may not agree.

Absolutely fine enjoying the fruits of one's hard work and be left leaning, life's not all sackcloth and ashes.

As stated up thread, I think to declare your allegiance to the Labour party, to be a spokesperson for them, to profess to support socialist ideals and then to send your children to private school is crossing a massive red line. As a committed socialist one would believe in equal opportunities and a level playing field, so to flout a very basic tenet because somehow it doesn't apply to you and yours, I don't understand, not even a little bit!

I do agree, Terribull

Don't forget those at the top in the Post Office, moved to other jobs and Fujitsu, just awarded another lucrative Government contract despite having suicides and the imprisonment of innocent people on their consciences.

Those people who have been helped by the Prince's Trust speak very highly of Charles, his personal involvement and interest in improving the lives of so many young people and his ongoing interest in what they have achieved.

So is Charles what you might term "a Champagne Socialist"?
Well-off, in some ways privileged, but wanting to improve the lives others?
He seems to fit the description.

Champagne Socialists - who can forget what Peter Mandelson said.

Yes Peter never did quite get Peter Mandelson hob nobbingon Oligarch's yachts with the obnoxious ten or is 12 jobs now, ex Chancellor, Osborne

that should be hob nobbing not nobbington but nobbington! but a nobbington sounds like it could be a word to describe certain ex politicians!

TerriBull

Absolutely fine enjoying the fruits of one's hard work and be left leaning, life's not all sackcloth and ashes.

As stated up thread, I think to declare your allegiance to the Labour party, to be a spokesperson for them, to profess to support socialist ideals and then to send your children to private school is crossing a massive red line. As a committed socialist one would believe in equal opportunities and a level playing field, so to flout a very basic tenet because somehow it doesn't apply to you and yours, I don't understand, not even a little bit!

Absolutely this, well said TerriBull. Those who state that comprehensive schools are good for all children, and want the private schools to pay extra taxes or even be abolished, and then send their children to private schools really do fit the term champagne socialist in my opinion. As I said before, my grandmother would have said they are do as I say, not as I do people.

Oreo

Dickens

Oreo

Not a fan!
Patronising, arrogant and sour as other posters say.She also needs to get her roots done or choose a different hairstyle😬

She also needs to get her roots done or choose a different hairstyle😬

<<< sigh >>>

Was wondering who would be the first sanctimonious comment would come from😄
It’s a real distraction when she’s on tv, which unfortunately is often given that she’s a real self publicist, all you notice are the glaring grey roots on the dyed gingery blonde hair as the top part is dragged back and secured with a slide, urrrgh!

Was wondering who would be the first sanctimonious comment would come from😄

When a woman criticises another for her opinion but feels it necessary to add a barb about her appearance, it does make me sigh. We complain about men making personal comments on high-profile women's looks, and I just think it's a bloody shame that we indulge in the same thing.

If that makes me sanctimonious, so be it. And I'm not a fan of Toynbee.