Though Gordon Brown might beg to differ, many are seeing the arrival of a Tory government next year as a pretty safe bet. What this means, of course, is we'll be presided over by a cabinet full of, you guessed it, poshos.The one social group that's always had its silver-plated fingers in the politics pie, the upperest classes are a key part of parliaments the world over. And now that Labour seems ready to fall off its political perch, we can look forward to the likes of George Osborne (eldest son of a baronet, worth £4.3 m, and actually called 'Gideon'), David Cameron (Eton, Oxford, and Boris's drinking buddy in the extraordinarily posh Bullingdon Club) and many more cracking the Chief Whip (so to speak).
But is this a bad thing? Are public school boys the best thing in politics since universal suffrage – or just another example of overeducated Tim-Nice-But-Dims fluffing up the country once again? We look back on previous Prime Ministers to crudely work out what's what, after the jump.
The State-School Educated PMs:
Gordon Brown (Labour - 27 June 2007 until...) How posh? The son of the manse (a Church Of Scotland Minster) in Kirkcaldy, Gordon went to a comprehensive, Kirkcaldy High School before going to the University Of Edinburgh at the age of 16. No, really.
Notable moments whilst PM: 2007's Foot and Mouth outbreak; massive floods across Britain; the misplacing of a Child Benefit Data CD, the 10p tax rate, the credit crunch and the parliamentary expenses furor. Funny face though, hasn't he?
Margaret Thatcher (Conservative – 4 May 1979 to 28 Nov 1990) How posh? Daughter of a grocer from Grantham, Lincolnshire, Maggie went to the local grammar, Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School, before winning a scholarship to Oxford.
Notable moments whilst PM: Became the first female Prime Minister; won the Falklands War; privatised a huge amount of government-owned properties; presided over the miner's strike; decreased trade unions' power and um... the poll tax. Definitely not her finest hour.
Harold Wilson (Labour – two terms: 16 Oct 1964 to19 June 1970 and 4 March 1974 to 5 April 1976) How posh? Son of a chemist from Huddersfield, Yorkshire, Harold won a scholarship to the local grammar, before moving to another one for sixth form. Speak in a broad Yorkshire accent, he saw himself as 'a man of the people' and made it his mission to how everyone just how very down to earth he was.
Notable moments whilst PM: instigated a large number of social reforms (including legalising homosexuality); saw over the devaluation of the pound; endured a hung parliament; saw Britain join the EU and became winner of pipe smoker of the year 1965.
Ramsay Macdonald (Labour – Three terms: 22 Jan 1924 to 4 Nov 1924, 5 June 1929 to 7 June 1935)How Posh? The illegitimate son of a farm labourer and a housemaid, received a basic education from a Free Church Of Scotland Rule with no official time spent at a university.
Notable moments whilst PM: Dealt with reparations with Germany after WW1; appointed first female minister (Margaret Bondfield); failed to deal with great depression (Doh!); completely lost control of the Labour party. Not one of Labour's favourite previous politicians.
The Privately Educated PMs / potential PM:
David Cameron (Conservative - Time will tell) How posh? The son of a stockbroker, Cameron grew up in Sheffield's quaintest little village, Totley, before going to a preparatory school in Berkshire and onto Eton, Oxford and the notorious Bullingdon Club.
Notable moments whilst PM: We're not even sure what he plans to do...
Harold Macmillan (Conservative - 10 Jan 1957 to19 Oct 1963) How posh? Known as 'Supermac', Harold was born in Chelsea, the son of a publisher and an artist, and was educated at the independent Summer Fields School before going onto Eton (which will definitely be a running theme here).
Notable moments whilst PM: Series of oddly named events, including: Night of the Long Knives; Cuban missile crisis; Profumo Affair on top of failing to get into the EEC and the Notting Hill Race Riots.
Winston Churchill (Conservative – three terms: 10 May 1940 to 26 July 1945 and 26 Oct 1951 to 7 April 1955)How posh? A descendant of the Spencer family (the guys who owned Blenheim Palace, donchaknow?), Churchill was the son of Lord Randolph Churchill and went to a series of other private schools before going to one of the big daddies of Public Schools, Harrow.
Notable moments whilst PM: the foundation of the United Nations and winning that niggling World War II thing. Nice work, Winston.
Neville Chamberlain (Conservative - 28 May 1937 to10 May 1940) How posh? The son of the man who would later become the Mayor Of Birmingham, Chamberlain was educated at a public school, Rugby, and then Mason Science college in Birmingham.
Notable moments whilst PM: failed to form a coalition government; attempted to appease Germany and prevent World War II; declared 'peace in our time' resigned before Churchill took over. Essentially a by-word for 'cock-up'.
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Friday 05 March
By wes
Maybe the posh have a better education.
But have they got more common sense.
This is the question.
wes/
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Saturday 26 June
By David Reuslove
I like Cameron because at last someone has the common sense to cap 'IMMIGRATION'. Next minute,there was a person saying we need IMMIGRATION because without this unending flow of people who want to sit on their arses,our productivity would stop.What about the close to FOUR million unemployed.Oh yes,I am not using the Labour goverments massaged figures.I pray that as soon as this becomes law,let's have one where we can paid for turning illegal aliens in .Oh won't you Immigrant Chasers who call your selves Lawyers be ecstatic with the new work load.But seriously,a question to these lawyers and others who fight to keep illegal aliens here.WHY?
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