Them and Us

"We're all middle class now", not on your nelly. Blair's dream for a chocolate box, middle class, meritocratic England was exposed for what it is this week, from Westminster. Crap.

For any New Labourite or Compassionate Conservative who comforted themselves with the thought that centre ground politics had rid itself of the notion of a class war, this week proves otherwise. Moats, mole killers, light bulb changers, helipads, swimming pools and servants quarters (yes, that's what Sky news named one claim as)- all evidence for the distinct cultural divide that separates our two main parties . Here and now. It may be uncomfortable for those who squealed with glee at Blair's infamous declaration, but class in politics is as prevalent as ever. Labour MPs aren't faultless, in fact those who have cheated the system are probably worse. We should be above reproach. The upbringing of many a Labour MP , amongst the constituents they represent, should teach humility and a sense of right and wrong. They don't feature on the Eton Curriculum.

So many in the Tory party are, as much today as ever before, used to a level of decadence, where employing someone to change their light bulbs is normal. For anyone to believe, in all seriousness, that they can represent the entirety of this country is deluded. Prescott's claim for two toilet seats, and Shahid's claim for a telly emphasises the point, does it not? These are pretty mundane items. Cheeky, yet almost (and again, I say almost) endearing. Too far? ok.

Many working class commentators and voices, like Prescott, are mocked for seeming hard done by, bitter and twisted. With these revelations, and a peek through the letterbox of many of the Opposition, is it any surprise? The class struggle is as biting and bitter as ever, and that's where this public anger comes from. The age of austerity promoted by the Tory Party is more sickening than ever. How dare they. Austerity presumably would rule out a tax funded mole murderer?

I'm not saying that the rich shouldn't be in politics. Not at all. Yet surely the strength of the Labour Party is the diversity of its representatives...from Tony Benn and Harriet Haman to John Prescott and Alan Johnson, each one brings a slice of the British cake to the table. There is no such range in the Tory party, a range so necessary for a government to have. So, in a week where Tory MPs call for an 'opt out' of the minimum wage from their tennis courts, can we take a moment to digest the audacity, and then respectfully decline.

*I know Labour MPs have repaid more and probably quantitavely claimed more, I'm talking about the actual items though, and the culture they represent.*