Spectator letters: Nepotism, aid and Chatsworth

Nepotism rules

Sir: Julie Burchill’s piece ‘Born to be famous’ (26 July) was very strong and as, like her, I’m an ex-Labour supporter turned conservative, it echoed my opinions. The performing arts in particular were a great outlet for the untapped talents of what we used to call the working classes. Between the mid-1950s and about 1980, coming from a modest background was no handicap in the arts or (primarily Labour) politics.

Today’s media/political axis is rife with both nepotism and persons who have little comprehension of everyday life. To his credit, David Cameron has at least done some work before joining the two other party leaders, who are the pampered sons of privilege with no experience of the effects of, for example, mass immigration or poor state education.

Front-bench politicians who show concern for our poorer classes tend to be sidelined. Names that come to mind include Michael Gove, Alan Johnson, Iain Duncan Smith, Anne Cryer and Frank Field.