All this equality is great, but it seems a bit limited from where I’m standing

By Neil Fraser

It’s been interesting over the last few days reading some of the articles posted here during the reign of the guest editor. But, as some of you may have noticed from the comments I left, I couldn’t help but be struck by how similar all the contributors were; and before you say of course they were, I’m not referring to the fact that they were all women, but the fact that, almost without fail, they were either based in London, middle-class, or Oxbridge educated and often all three.

Now this is obviously not just a phenomenon of female bloggers on Labour leaning sites, in fact it’s true of most commentators and is definitely true of the majority of politicians (especially the more high profile ones). But is it really true that the only people who are articulate, engaging, and insightful enough must possess one, if not all, of these qualities?

For example, last week Tom Harris wrote a piece about morality and cited a teenage mother from Glasgow as proof of his points. Now whether you agree with what Tom had to say or not, his piece was ripe for a rebuttal and sure enough we got one. But who did we get it from? Laurie Penny “a 22-year old journalist, blogger and activist from London.” Now I’m not saying that Ms Penny’s opinions on Tom’s article were not valid but surely her selection was just laziness (London-based editor picks London-based colleague).

Would this rebuttal not have been better coming from a teenage mother, perhaps even one from Tom’s own constituency? And how difficult would it have been to find someone like that who has been affected by the issues Tom raised to do this piece? After all, Glasgow is only a phone call away and I’m sure there are plenty of Labour party members there who would have willingly shared their views on just such experiences.

When I raise these points about politics and the London elite I’m usually accused of being some kind of class bigot, or told that my points are irrelevant or even false. But this perceived elitism is what is turning most people off of politics. When two of the main three Political parties (and even the BNP’s) leaders are privately educated Oxbridge graduates and most of their appointees appear to be the same, is it any wonder people are turning away from politics in their droves?

Unlike the Tory retirees living in Spain who regularly comment on this site, I speak to members of the electorate on a regular basis so I can say, with at least some authority, that the biggest threat to all political parties is apathy. Anyone who canvasses for any political party in any area will be familiar with the quote “I don’t vote, they’re all the same”. And I believe for the reasons stated above we’re just reinforcing that. Furthermore I believe our well intended attempts at gender and racial equity in politics is creating more inequality that it overcomes.

Striving for equality should be an essential part of the Labour movement, but when it is nothing more than quota meeting, and box checking can it truly be called equality? For example, do I think sending a minority woman to parliament is a great step forward for equality? Well, if she went to the same public school and university as number of her white male counterparts, then no.

In our efforts to break the monopoly of the white male from politics are we not in danger of throwing the baby out with the bath water? Has the all female shortlist not just made it as easy for the well-educated, politically connected woman to make her way in politics, as it has historically for the well-educated, politically connected man, but failed to help the working class woman achieve the same goal?

When local CLP members in a working class area get given a short-list which consists of a series of women who don’t know them, don’t know their area, quite literally can’t find it on a map, and are considered “middle-class Southerners who went to Cambridge” by the voting populace, is it any surprise the CLP members don’t exactly turn out to vote, and consequently the electorate couldn’t care less?

Now obviously I’m, yet again, going to be accused of misogyny, working class snobbery, and resentment, but nothing could be further from the truth. The fact is I believe passionately in equality for all, no matter what your background, race or gender (and believe it or not that includes middle class Oxbridge Southerners) it’s just that I think the issues of inequality can not be taken in isolation and must be addressed together.

Equality is not something to be handed out by a select few. We’re either all equal or we’re not, and until at least one political party grasps that, the voters on election days will dwindle and dwindle; and that’s when the extremists move in.