Clegg hits out at class divide

THE UK is still a “long distance” from becoming a classless society, Nick Clegg warned yesterday.

Outdated, snobbish attitudes are “cramping” society and “hobbling” the economy and must be shaken off, the Deputy Prime Minister said.

The Lib Dem leader added it was a “damning indictment” on the UK that some people are born with a sense of entitlement, while others simply face exclusion.

In a speech to the Sutton Trust in central London yesterday, Mr Clegg said: “Too often the question of class and class attitudes is left in the shadows of the social mobility debate.

“Politicians are often reluctant to get into a discussion about class especially if, like me, they have been fortunate in their background, schooling and opportunities.

“But we can’t ignore it. Class still counts. We are a long distance from being a classless society.

“And I don’t only mean in the hard material facts, inequalities in income, health and wealth. I also mean in terms of the attitudes and assumptions we carry around in our heads, about ourselves and about others.”

Mr Clegg was speaking as the Government published new trackers designed to measure progress in making society fairer.

The 17 indicators cover areas including readiness for school, the attainment of youngsters on free school meals at age 16 compared with their peers, and the proportion of poorer children going to university.

It will be the first time that any Government in the world has published such information.

Nick Clegg.