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Harman tells civil servants to ‘wage war’ on class divide
Nicholas Cecil and Paul Waugh24 Apr 2009
Harriet Harman was today accused of starting a “class war” by telling millions of public servants to narrow social gaps with every decision they make.
Labour's deputy leader declared that tackling social inequalities was now a “public policy imperative”.
She said: “If you are in the public sector, this is your duty, to cognise socio-economic equality, to look at every decision you make and say is this going to help us narrow the gap, reduce socio-economic inequalities?'” She also stressed that town halls should encourage pupils from more deprived backgrounds to apply for good schools outside their local area.
Bringing in children from a different district could spark a backlash among local families if they miss out.
However, Ms Harman told the Evening Standard: “If you find that there is one particularly successful school ... and the kids in a poorer area not far away are not applying to that, the education authority would say to narrow the gap we have to make sure that the kids in this area know about and are encouraged to apply to this school.” Ms Harman was fleshing out plans for a law to ban discrimination against the poor, just days after Chancellor Alistair Darling proposed a 50p supertax. All public bodies will have to reduce inequality caused by “class disadvantage” under proposals in the Equalities Bill.
Ms Harman, the niece of Viscountess Longford, denied she was seeking to wage “class war”. The Commons Leader stressed that more equal societies were more efficient and peaceful: “If you have the super-rich behind the gates and people who are struggling to make ends meet, that does not make sense.”
However, she faced immediate criticism from the Tories. “All public bodies should already be serving their communities equally,” said Peter Luff MP, chairman of the Commons business committee. “This smacks of a class war' attempt to shift funding to Labour held marginals and constituencies.”
But Ms Harman, who is suspected by colleagues of positioning herself for a future bid for the top job, said that as British laws already covered race, gender, age and disability, it was time that class was included.
The Equalities Bill will for the first time put the issue of class discrimination into government legislation.
It could lead to education authorities having a legal duty to encourage parents from poor backgrounds to apply for the best schools and health authorities allocate money for the poorest.
Regional development agencies could also be forced to give more grants to deprived areas.
Under the reforms, companies will also have to carry out compulsory “gender pay” audits in a bid to tackle “Sexism in the City”.
The measure, though, was immediately attacked by business leaders.
The law, which will apply to firms with 250 or more staff, would require the publication of average hourly earnings of all staff, including bonuses.
Business groups had expected the pay audits to be voluntary.
Reader views (29)
Harmen is the most deluded woman on the planet. Only another year left for this moron to spout her rubbish
- Trevn, Abu Dhabi, 27/04/2009 06:52
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When will someone put a stop to Harriet Hatemen? She has no remit from the people and is meddling again with businesses already consigned to the dungeons of Labour's Calamity Castle.
- Chris Williams, Cardiff, 26/04/2009 09:44
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She is the illiberal fascist elite personified. Fortunately she will soon be gone.
- Stephen, Hampton, England, 26/04/2009 01:45
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How come they always bang on about 'equality' in every aspect of life except for taxes?
A single rate of tax for everyone would certainly be equality but would never be suggested by any mp in the right mind.
The problem is people have been raised to believe that living off the rich is natural order of things as night is to day. It’s not really people, it’s just that there is more of us (not rich) then them (the rich) and that’s just human nature.
- Sean, London, UK, 25/04/2009 12:08
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Wouldn't outlawing discrimination on grounds of wealth render the entire tax system illegal? If we are supposed to be 'wealth blind' wouldn't that absolutely require that everyone pay tax at the same rate, regardless of how much they may earn? Can't wait to see that one tested in court in a few years if this law goes through. You can bet someone will pick up on it...
- Elliot Kane, London, England, 25/04/2009 11:34
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The fact is that many ordinary families make sacrifices to pay for private education for their children -it is not just the "super rich" who do so. This woman is the enemy of decent, hardworking families who want the best they can get for their children to give them a good start in life. What Ms Harman wants is for everyone to be brought down to the lowest possible level - ambition is a dirty word in her book. THe sink schools that her policies have created are no places for children who want to be safe from drugs and violence and who also want to work hard.
- Susannah, London UK, 25/04/2009 11:26
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Would Ms Harman, that great intellect, care to define 'Class'?
- Chuck Unsworth, London, 25/04/2009 10:09
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OK, give up your SECOND HOME allowance and expenses account for starter, and further more, donate all your bank savings to the poor and charity, that would make you feel righteous, right? Obviously, you still think you can win the next election by stirring up hatred on sex and class equality. Get real, Ms Harman, Labour's deputy leader (not for long).
- K Lee, Cheshunt, UK, 25/04/2009 09:52
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Socialism - Those that are happy to be told what to do, and those that are even happier to tell them what to do.
- Wills, Soton, 25/04/2009 07:57
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Life is not fair. No law or government or MP on the planet can change that.
- Trunk, US, 25/04/2009 03:59
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Another loony social theorist
- Tempest Fugit, Newcastl Australia, 25/04/2009 01:01
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Here goes but as daft as i am, but should all schools not be up to a standard that average people like myself not have to worry about where their children go, and should all children not have the right to go school in their local area with their local friends. I grew up very poor and work very hard for the single aim that my son can live in a nice area with space to play, go to a good school and can accomplish what makes him happy. Why can we not even get into our top 3 local schools for our son when people who live miles away can. we as parents only want the best as we all do for our children, so why not help us get out of the labour perceived class cycle and enable normal people to have very basic education/health service in their local community !
- David Maund, twickenham, 25/04/2009 00:38
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Class exists in the minds of individuals with a chip on their shoulder. Unlike sex, race, gender and age it is neither fixed nor tangible and thus incapable of being regulated. Harman really is quite stupid and a screaming hypocrite. She is living proof that being born into privilege is no guarantee of class!
- Lord Clifton, Bristol, UK, 24/04/2009 21:37
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The woman is a Left Wing head case!
- Mark A, Warrington England, 24/04/2009 21:31
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cognise socio-economic equality probably means MPs should accept redundancies pay and pension cuts (efficiency savigs) then enrol for plain english courses
- Paul Lask, London UK, 24/04/2009 18:43
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Keeping going Ms Harman. Keep reminding us why we need to vote and keep Labour out of office.
Thanks
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, 24/04/2009 18:39
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If Harman wanted to improve the lives of the disadvantages she could open libraries instead of closing them; care for sports facilities instead of selling them off to property developers; encourage music lessons in schools instead of eradicating them; stop giving them money to spend on drugs, booze and guns.
But in truth she doesn't want to improve lives, all she really wants to do is destroy the lives and well-being of the educated middle class because she hates them.
- Tom Jennings, Beckenham UK, 24/04/2009 17:53
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Is she on another planet?
- Alex C, London, 24/04/2009 16:46
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PERHAPS THE PC BAND WILL EXERCISE THEIR OWN BRAND OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, WONDER WHAT IN THE FUTURE THEY WILL NAME THE ISLE OF WHIGHT, WE ARE HEADING FORLABOURS VERSION OF APARTIED
- Rhorne, LIMA PERU, 24/04/2009 16:45
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They want a class-less society because they know class is the one thing their inflated salaries and expenses cannot buy them.
- M Farbiash, Highgate, 24/04/2009 16:38
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She said it herself: “If you have the super-rich behind the gates and people who are struggling to make ends meet, that does not make sense.” That's precisely what most people think when they read about the outrageoous greed exhibited by these MPs who are, of course, 'complying with the rules' and 'doing nothing wrong' blah, blah, blah. It's a bit rich coming from this woman, who is a complete opportunist and a hypocrite.
- John, Kew, UK, 24/04/2009 16:21
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After 'Alis[tair] in Wonderland',
Welcome to Mad Hatty's Tea Party!
Brown's now obviously lost his grip, entirely.
And, very strangely, David Millipede has mysteriously gone AWOL.
- Dave, Cumbria, 24/04/2009 16:12
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Harriet Harperson is the man-hating female supremacist who uses the word sexism as if she invented the word and who the idiot Brown has appointed the equality minister. She has also sent her three children to selective state schools.
Only the non compos mentis could take anything she says at face value.
I'm telling you now that no satirists would ever have dreamed that such a combination would ever have been able to make it to high office in this country, mainly because out of self-interest they would not want reality to be able to out-spoof them.
- Brenda Blessed, Plymouth, England, 24/04/2009 16:12
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Labour are really going all out to make government as difficult as possible for the next incumbents. Part of me hopes they get in again, so they have to clean up their own mess. Then again... bye bye Ms. Harperson.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland, 24/04/2009 15:56
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The public sector finances are strached behond breaking, companies are in trouble. All this is going to do is add more red tape, costs, and more "non jobs" in central and local government. WE CAN AFFORD THS ANY MORE!!!!!!!!!
- Jermy E, London, 24/04/2009 15:54
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It's because of actions of this kind that it is imperative that this load of serial deceivers and creeping self-serving buffoons are removed from power as soon as possible so that standards are not lowered to the lowest common denominator for everyone, while the pigs in power, including Harperson herself, think nothing of sending their children to the best schools.
The social divide has widened hugely under Labour, not narrowed.
Labour are now looking for left-wing votes by stoking up class hatred, but if they get enough votes to keep them in power, it will be more of the usual spin and let everything go to the dogs lack of government that we have grown so enured to.
- Eric Legge, Ongar, Essex, 24/04/2009 15:50
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And yet more social engineering by Old Labour. It really does make me sick being preached to by rich socialists. All of whom put their children through private education and use nepotism to give them a leg up in society.
The hypocrisy is blatant.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 24/04/2009 15:47
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Let me guess - she wants the support of the 'left' in a bid for leadership of the Labour Party.... she's mouthing all of the hot button phrases for them on a daily basis of late.
- Rogan, Irving, 24/04/2009 15:24
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I wonder how Ms Harman sending her son to a highly selective Grammar school, and her daughter to a fee-paying private school, has helped to foster social mobility?
- Liz, London,UK, 24/04/2009 14:57
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