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Is there a new elite?

Who’s really in charge? Are the traditional elite of privilege, power and wealth losing their control to a new, influential 'radically progressive' governing class?

People have always fought back against β€œThe elite”, and until recently they were easily recognisable: rich, privileged and often born into money. Old Etonians, billionaires, oil barons, media tycoons ruled the roost, but there are claims things are changing, and the rise of a new elite is challenging the status quo.
Author Matthew Goodwin calls them a group of β€œradical woke middle-class liberals completely out of step with the public”. University graduates working in creative industries, media and universities, who have an heavy influence over the national conversation about things like immigration, trans rights and sex education, but critics say they don’t represent β€œordinary folk”, and as a result communities are feeling unrepresented and left behind.
So who is in charge, or is there an unlikely, and unknowing, coalition between the two – the new elite dominating social discourse and cultural discussion, whilst the traditional elite pull the strings of politics and economics?
This is the next chapter of the culture wars – but while the pair of them battle it out for supremacy, much of the country struggles on day-to-day watching from the side lines.

Presenter: Neil Maggs
Producer: Jonathan IAnson
Editor: Clare Fordham

Contributors
Matt Goodwin, Professor of Politics, University of Kent and author "Values, Voice and Virtue".
George Monbiot, Author, journalist and environmental campaigner
Dr Lisa McKenzie, research fellow, University of Durham, writer and anarchist
Bob & Lee, builders
Dr Rakib Ehsan, Social policy analyst and author "Beyond Grievance"
Baroness Tina Stowell of Beeston
Paul Embery, Firefighter, trade unionist and writer
Tom, boxing club owner
Aaron Bastani, Broadcaster and founder of Novara Media

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Mon 18 Sep 2023 11:30

Broadcasts

  • Mon 17 Jul 2023 20:30
  • Mon 18 Sep 2023 11:30

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