Britain’s class system is more obscure than ever, with the national economy of the twenty-first century catering for globalisation, technology and accessible information.

As a result, New Labour labelled those at the bottom of the system as an ‘underclass’ that represented a minority compared to the majority of those in employment and stability.

The unemployment rate of just 3.8 per cent between March and May 2019 would correlate with such a philosophy, but ultimately this approach to class reflects the dangerous mindset British political elites held when the EU membership referendum was called.

Years of hurt

Indeed, it has been widely documented that the political elites had got it wrong and neglected lower-income citizens over the last 25 years. First was Major’s signing of the Maastricht Treaty, that committed Britain to further European integration, without the consultation of those who would be most affected by new regulations and procedures.

Then it was Blair’s fallen promise of social justice in the form of bolstering the educational system of the UK to give everyone a chance to rise as an individual and attain their goals, while big businesses and corporations were the biggest beneficiaries from market-based incentives, de-regulation and the booming European single market.

And then it was the global financial crisis of 2008 which shrunk the British economy for five financial quarters in a row (a year and three months) and impacted those already struggling the hardest.

And, of course, the subsequent austerity policies adopted by both Brown and the nine years of Conservative Government up until now that have squeezed public services, local communities and ignored those who greatly needed a strong social net to support them. Read more

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