No statue for a ‘patronising toff’

Aug 30 2009 Sunday Sun

WHILE the working class is not a homogenous group, these days most of us are intelligent enough to realise we sell our ability to work and when we are not needed (ie profits are low), the capitalist class throw us onto the scrap heap without a second thought.

However, there are working class people who are delusional about their status in society and vote Tory while there are others just as ignorant who blame immigrants for the crisis of world capitalism and cast their votes for the fascist BNP.

While working-class Tories are as thick as the proverbial brick, we can say most BNP supporters are disillusioned by the pro-capitalist stance of New Labour and its betrayal of working class people. That, however, is no excuse to vote for fascists.

However, there is a third type of working class person that is equally as despicable . . . the toady.

Last week a group in Hebburn were calling for a statue to be erected of Lord Mountbatten in the town. I thought the days of doffing your cap to a toff are long gone. Unfortunately not.

Mountbatten, by virtue of his birth and wealth, was in charge of HMS Kelly which was built in Hebburn. However, his attitudes and lifestyle were a universe away from the hardship and poverty of that town.

It’s sad when toadies call for a statue on the basis of Mountbatten being "one of the lads". This, on the basis that he would call into the Commercial Pub and spend the evening drinking with the locals. He even bought them a drink!

When are these toadies going to learn he and his type had, and still have, nothing but contempt for the people they patronisingly pat on the head and buy a drink for?

Like any member of the parasitical aristocracy he will have returned to his privileged lifestyle to mock the ignorant toadies who worshiped him.

JIM HUNT, Beach Road, South Shields, South Tyneside