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Harman forced to retreat over 'class war'
Nicholas Cecil, Chief Political Correspondent11.09.08
Harriet Harman was forced to drop the words "social class" from a speech to trade unionists today.
The Commons leader backed down after the Tories accused her of reviving class war rhetoric to appease the unions bankrolling Labour. There was speculation that she had been leaned on by Downing Street to moderate her language.
Ms Harman had pre-briefed her speech and issued a press release in which she used the words "social class". She warned social class "overarches" a string of other factors in people's life prospects.
But the Cabinet minister came under fire from Tory MPs, who accused Labour of bowing to Leftwingers and caving in to the unions which provide around £9 in £10 of the party's funding.
Mike Penning, Tory health spokesman for London, said: "Labour is in trouble with its paymasters, as well as with voters, and is reverting back to the class war of the Seventies."
The words "social class" were quietly dropped from Ms Harman's eight-minute speech to delegates at the TUC conference in Brighton. Instead she criticised the gap between the rich and poor, and the North and South.
Ms Harman, who was educated at £5,000-a-term St Paul's Girls' School, unveiled plans for a National Equalities Panel to examine how life chances are affected by people's background, where they live, their wealth, gender, race, disability and age.
Ms Harman told delegates that "equality matters more than ever" and was "necessary for a peaceful society and a strong economy". Her comments contrast with those of Tony Blair in 1999 that "the class war is over" - but won immediate support from Left-wing MPs. Jeremy Corbyn, Labour MP for Islington North and a member of the Left-wing Campaign group, said: "The biggest fall in support for Labour is among the traditional working class. We can't win without them."
Reader views (12)
This woman has led a highly privileged and isolated existence. St Paul's private school, university and her 'working' life surrounded by politicians and lawyers. She is so unworldly that she straps on a bullet proof vest in full view of the press to visit her constituency accompanied by police officers.
With everything collapsing around her she is now getting out that hoary old chestnut, the class war. Listen Hattie, if you want any advice on class warfare you could do worse than consulting that old class warrior par excellence, Arthur Scargill.
- John, Bangkok, Thailand
Champagne socialists! This Nu Labour tribe have been lining their pockets for long enough, out with them and their patronising, PC sqwarking, high taxing, sleezy drivvel!
- Gripper, Sydney Australia
What an odious creature this sanctimonious hypocrite Harman person is.
- Jsblackett, Hereford
Wwe are now down to Two classes in this country....!
That is the Public: i.e. the idiots who pay for everything.
Then there are the politicians: These are the ones who tell us they are working for us at the same time as they claim expenses for a new kitchen or dining room suite....!
Its November the 5th soon. Can we revive a tradition? Does anyone know where to buy some gunpowder?
- Dene Wood, Grays, Essex, That little country by the sea that used to have
Is Ms Harperson going to put herself forward as the highly paid (bonuses extra) Chief Executive of this unwanted and unnecessary Quango? I suppose like most of her colleagues in 2010 she will be unemployed.
- Neil, Gloucestershire, England.
Unscrupulous, unprincipled, unashamed are words that I'd apply to this government and no better exemplified than by Ms Harman.
- Peter Haldane, London
Perhaps your headline should include "Public School educated surgeon's daughter Harriet Harman" -
- Edward Green, Upminster
Tired old arguement for a tired old government. New Labour MPs of course are the new upper class with there telephone number expenses and book deals - "Let them eat cake!"
- Joe, London
Yet again another panel/quango. So how much is this going to cost the taxpayer?
- Scott, London
The trouble is that Labour are too middle class, liberal and self interested to look after the working classes.
The prefer to support the non-working classes. They prefer to divide wealth rather than create it. The very word Labour should give them a clue - working (not working class). Instead Labour have allowed workers to be imported because the non-working class they have created are so richly rewarded for sitting on their backsides and the unmonitored immigration they have allowed had drained this country dry.
- M Spanner, Ilford
And we all know what side of the 'class divide' the duplicitously closeted Ms Harman and her disingenuous
New McLabour buddies reside, don't we.
Rock on 'Animal Farm', as they unanimously squealed last weekend at the house-warming of the Blairs' 6th plush pad, their opulent new £6 million pile.
- Dave, cumbria
Labour have created 3 new classes. The rich, the over taxed & the poor.we are all bored of the looney lefties social meddling, its clearly not working!
- Fly, london
