A Working-Class Tory Is Something To Be . . .

stockhausen · 29 Sep 2010 at 18:16

In a one-hour BBC Radio 4 program on Saturday at 8 pm, David Davis delves into the sound archive to explore the history of a crucial political group: the working-class Tories.

Despite (or perhaps because of) being a play on the title of the excellent Marianne Faithfull song "A working class hero is something to be", this should be worth listening to.

I note that two of the fictional examples used to illustrate this theory are Albert Steptoe and Alf Garnett - fairly typical examples of ignorant, narrow-minded, racist, Daily Mail reading Tory right-whingers

Mr_White · 29 Sep 2010 at 18:20

stockhausen said:
the excellent Marianne Faithfull song "A working class hero is something to be"

Castiel · 29 Sep 2010 at 18:29

I am working class and I am neither Racist, Ignorant, or Narrow-minded nor do I read the Daily Mail.

I did however vote for the Conservatives, so I would say that your two examples are not only fictional but false.

Still, Labour now have a dyed in the wool Marxist for a leader, who betrays his own kin in pursuit of his ambition. The Liberal Democrats are a spent force desperately attempting to scramble out of the shadow of their Conservative overlords, so the choice is rather limited.

Cosimo · 29 Sep 2010 at 18:50

stockhausen said:
I note that two of the fictional examples used to illustrate this theory are Albert Steptoe and Alf Garnett - fairly typical examples of ignorant, narrow-minded, racist, Daily Mail reading Tory right-whingers

You know some of those attributes remind me of you. I'll let you guess which ones they are.

Tefal · 29 Sep 2010 at 18:56

Castiel said:
I am working class

I thought you where in upper management married to a CFO of a large company?

what part of that is working class?

Apopcalyptic · 29 Sep 2010 at 18:58

stockhausen said:
Despite (or perhaps because of) being a play on the title of the excellent John Lennon song "Working Class Hero", this should be worth listening to.

Fixed.

PermaBanned · 29 Sep 2010 at 19:01

Tefal said:
I thought you where in upper management married to a CFO of a large company?

what part of that is working class?

According to Marx you can consider yourself Working Class if you sell your labour, so it's open to interpretation i suppose.

Floogie · 29 Sep 2010 at 19:01

Castiel said:
Still, Labour now have a dyed in the wool Marxist for a leader, who betrays his own kin in pursuit of his ambition.

Don't be silly now. Claiming that Miliband is a Marxist is sensationalist rubbish. Also this cut-throat betrayal that you are moaning about pretty much qualifies him as a politician ready for the big league.

OP: A working class Tory is a disgusting creature in my book.

Tefal · 29 Sep 2010 at 19:04

Superewza said:
According to Marx you can consider yourself Working Class if you sell your labour, so it's open to interpretation i suppose.

So everyone is working class then?

Or are you talking about purely physical labour?

PermaBanned · 29 Sep 2010 at 19:06

Tefal said:
So everyone is working class then?

Or are you talking about purely physical labour?

As i said, it's open to interpretation. My dad works for what he considers to be a somewhat middle class organisation (Librarian) but he sees himself as working class.

Cosimo · 29 Sep 2010 at 19:09

Floogie said:
OP: A working class Tory is a disgusting creature in my book.

Surely just as disgusting as a working class Labourite in this day and age.

Floogie · 29 Sep 2010 at 19:14

simulatorman said:
Surely just as disgusting as a working class Labourite in this day and age.

Least they know on which side their bread is buttered!

Efour · 29 Sep 2010 at 19:17

i wear a flat cap, work int mill and have a whippet on a string, by eck get the tin bath out before i beat you woman.

Castiel · 29 Sep 2010 at 19:32

Tefal said:
I thought you where in upper management married to a CFO of a large company?

what part of that is working class?

The part where I grew up on several council estates and being booted between Parents who didn't care too much and care-homes both here and the US.

Also spending 18 years in the armed forces prior to working in management.

I think that qualifies me as working class. My wife...not so much.

mike62 · 29 Sep 2010 at 19:37

simulatorman said:
Surely just as rare as a working Labourite in this day and age.

There you go

Puzzled · 29 Sep 2010 at 19:38

Do people still put themselves in classes?

I don't consider myself to be any class, I don't feel like I have to belong to a group and then consider myself superior for being part of it.

Frankly I find the whole class system pathetic, especially how people seem to think that being working class is something to be proud of. As if working yourself to death for someone else's gain is an achievement.

[TW]Fox · 29 Sep 2010 at 19:40

Castiel said:
The part where I grew up on several council estates and being booted between Parents who didn't care too much and care-homes both here and the US.

Also spending 18 years in the armed forces prior to working in management.

I think that qualifies me as working class. My wife...not so much.

I dont think it does.

I think it DID qualify you, but you've experienced social mobility since then.

Welcome to the middle classes. Thats why you voted Tory.

PermaBanned · 29 Sep 2010 at 19:42

MonkeyMan said:
Do people still put themselves in classes?

I don't consider myself to be any class, I don't feel like I have to belong to a group and then consider myself superior for being part of it.

Frankly I find the whole class system pathetic, especially how people seem to think that being working class is something to be proud of. As if working yourself to death for someone else's gain is an achievement.

I agree wholeheartedly, unfortunately the class system is just one of those things that is unavoidable under a capitalist system. People are proud to be working class because that means they're the oppressed, not the oppressors.

[TW]Fox · 29 Sep 2010 at 19:43

Superewza said:
I agree wholeheartedly, unfortunately the class system is just one of those things that is unavoidable under a capitalist system. People are proud to be working class because that means they're the oppressed, not the oppressors.

No, people used to be proud to be working class because they recognised the considerable contribution they made to society.

mushroomsoup · 29 Sep 2010 at 19:44

MonkeyMan said:
Do people still put themselves in classes?

I don't consider myself to be any class, I don't feel like I have to belong to a group and then consider myself superior for being part of it.

Frankly I find the whole class system pathetic, especially how people seem to think that being working class is something to be proud of. As if working yourself to death for someone else's gain is an achievement.

Thats a very middle class view

A Working-Class Tory Is Something To Be . . .

Capodecina