Enough of tiresome lectures from these paragons of privilege
THE rich and famous love to tell us how to live our lives. As they clamber out of costly electric cars into private jets, or gather at impossibly expensive resorts to discuss the need for universal sacrifice, they give off a golden glow of virtue that can be seen for miles and probably contributes to global warming.
Prince Harry thinks we should all limit ourselves to two children for the sake of the planet. His wife Meghan guest-edits the super-rich fashionista’s magazine Vogue, earnestly displaying her circle of beautiful people with beautiful opinions.
To be grand, these days, is also to be woke, completely in tune with the maxims of the cultural revolution. Wealth and privilege now go with renewable energy, vegan diets, and perhaps a past brush with drugs, now bravely overcome.
Do these supposed paragons begin to realise just how irritating this posturing is to those whose days are f i l l ed with school runs, frazzling childcare, jammed roads and crammed trains, last-minute shopping and trying to stretch limited, often shrinking incomes to stay in the same place?
They do not. They, thanks to fabulous wealth, can live their lives exactly as they choose, indulging every whim or fad.
Anyone who really wanted to encourage good mental health among young women would steer them away from the impossible images in fashion magazines. And it is very hard to reconcile a passion for reducing CO2 emissions with the use of private jets or helicopters. It is not population i t self which causes problems, but politically mismanaged economies ( generally run by idealistic strongmen) which fail to feed their people properly.
It is true that some of the superelite, such as Prince Charles and Bill Gates, have long, serious records of real concern with the planet, the environment and the welfare of the poor and unlucky.
But far more good is done by the great unsung millions, among whom are many thousands of quiet heroes and heroines, denying themselves, helping others, standing up to local thugs and bullies, collecting for charity, watching out for ill or elderly neighbours. As George Eliot put it: ‘The growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.’ Less preening, less lecturing, more quiet self-restraint, please.
Boris right to throw down the gauntlet
TODAY The Mail on Sunday publishes a strong challenge to the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, by the Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay.
His words epitomise the tough new stance of the Boris Johnson Government. Mr Barni e r ’s mandate has changed. A new approach is needed. It is perfectly possible for the EU to shift. But if they will not, then we will leave on October 31.
Certainly there is no point going i nto talks blowing an uncertain trumpet blast. But Mr Johnson may soon face his own mandate problems, as talk of another General Election grows.
It is t rue t hat t he Brecon by-election has shown Labour up as weak and divided. But it also revealed the continuing ability of Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party to take votes from the Tories.
There is no sign of a ToryFarage pact, either. Rather the reverse, with Mr Farage at daggers drawn with the Downi ng Street mastermind Dominic Cummings.
This is going to be a very difficult course to steer. We must hope that Mr Johnson handles it skilfully.