Yasmin Alibhai-Brown is wrong — my generation isn’t selfish or obsessed with cappuccinos

Is Generation Y becoming more right wing and self-obsessed? Radio 4 broadcast a very interesting documentary tonight, Generation Right, on whether my generation is becoming more individualistic — featuring this parish’s Toby Young and Fraser Nelson. Both argued that some of our values might be perceived as right-wing but the trend isn’t that simple. Thanks to greater choice and empowerment of the individual, Generation Y is far less trusting of the state, which one could translate as a form of small-c conservatism.

The Independent’s Yasmin Alibhai-Brown is someone who believes that. She told Radio 4 my generation is selfish and spoilt:

‘…they’re a frightfully spoilt generation. They hate the fact they don’t get their student fees and everything paid for and they also hate the fact other people are getting benefits. So the only thing they want is benefit for themselves’ 

‘They’ve become very conservative and very selfish. If this carries on, we won’t have a welfare state and actually they may come to rue this, as they get older.