Class War

One war – class war

It used to be simple:

Upper class (Cleese), middle class (Barker), lower class (Corbett). That Was The Week That Was, I think.

Us Poles, we’re rubbish at lots of things. Establishing borders that are anything other than temporary and protecting them, for a kick-off. Class is one of them. A big gap in our emotional intelligence, or just too busy living to bother with the bull and learning the forelock tugging protocols?

My Dad simplified the TWTWTW version further: “if you work because you need the money, then you’re working class”. Easy. The idle rich, and everyone else. A definition that makes it very difficult to get too far up your own arse. A natural habitat of those who consider themselves middle class.

Apparently now we have seven classes. Complicating rather than simplifying things. It depends on your cultural, social and economic capital. The test, tellingly, lists them in the reverse order. There’s now the elite, the established and the technical middle classes, the new affluent workers, the traditional working class, emergent service workers, and the precariat (precarious proletariat, whatever that means).

Weekend food reviews

Will Self describes the latest trendy burger chain as “still kiddie-nosh, there’s nothing new under the bun”.

Jay Rayner: “Eric Chavot is back. [and serving a traditional, hearty menu] Best to bring your own defibrillator.”

No confidence in Gove

That’s not just the NUT, but the traditionally moderate Association of Teachers and Lecturers. Votes of no confidence in the minister and chief inspector.

Little wonder.

There’s no confidence in the cabbage-toting little Crackerjack funster impersonating a Secretary for Education, nor is there any in Buzz Lightyear’s old man.