Peter Hitchens Accuses Labour of Double Standards

Peter Hitchens, a columnist for the Mail on Sunday, has accused Labour politicians of hypocrisy regarding education. He alleges they exploit a “well-hidden privilege” to gain admission to top state schools for their children, despite publicly criticizing private education.

Strategic Housing and Elite State Schools

Hitchens argues that while Labour figures often label those attending private schools as a “sort of pestilence,” many actively seek places for their children in high-performing state schools. He cites the example of a “Labour power couple” who reportedly spent millions on a property within the catchment area of a prestigious North London girls’ school.

A Path to Oxford and Beyond

This strategic housing purchase, according to Hitchens, ultimately secured their daughter’s access to Oxford University and a successful career, mirroring the trajectory of someone privately educated, but without the perceived drawbacks now associated with private schooling.

A New Form of Privilege

Hitchens contends that a new form of “well-hidden privilege” is emerging, allowing middle-class parents to manipulate the state education system. He criticizes the narrative promoted by figures like Alan Milburn and Ofsted, which suggests that discriminating against privately educated applicants benefits the less privileged.

The State System as the New Advantage

Instead, Hitchens asserts that the current privilege lies in the ability to navigate and exploit the state system, pointing to several London schools with high standards and selective admissions processes populated by children of the left-wing elite.

Parallels to Soviet Moscow

To illustrate his point about “disguised privilege,” Hitchens recounts his time as a foreign correspondent in Moscow (1990-1992). He described securing a luxurious flat through connections to a member of the Soviet elite.

Hidden Advantages in a Seemingly Egalitarian System

Despite appearing as a standard Soviet flat, the residence offered amenities and access unavailable to the general population, such as a guaranteed vodka ration. He draws a parallel to the current situation in Britain, noting that even in an egalitarian system, hidden advantages persist, like a Kremlin clinic shielded from view.

Hitchens argues that privilege often operates subtly, regardless of the political ideology in power.