Britain's 'meritocracy'
Labour politicians, 'New' and 'Old', love the word 'meritocracy'. We have been hearing it from them for a long time. Is not the present scheme to reform the House of Lords supposed to be based on 'meritocratic' principles - on the idea that people's status and rewards should be determined by their actual contribution to the nation, rather than birth?
But what does Labour's 'meritocracy' actually mean?
Today it means knighthoods and other distinguished honours going to 'pop' stars and TV actors and actresses, sometimes 'straight' but very often 'queer', to sport champions, sometimes deserving but more often chosen to appease popular demand and solicit votes, and to failed politicians whose service to Britain is zero but who have proved loyal time-servers for the ruling party. The latest target has been the House of Lords, packed with New Labour place'men', including the homosexual Asian TV magnate, Waheed Ali.
Foul-mouthed yobbos who encourage young people to engage in drug taking, like Noel Gallagher of Oasis, are accorded huge national importance by being invited to 10 Downing Street, where they are televised hob-nobbing with the Prime Minister.
Not only this, but also these exemplars of Britain's 'meritocracy' make vast amounts of money and inhabit sumptuous residences, sometimes amounting to places. Indeed, a number of Britain's stately homes, which their aristocratic former owners can no longer afford, are now being snapped up by aged and not so aged rock idols, who have become the new gentry - having spent much of their lives striving to identify themselves with the poor and the oppressed!
Meanwhile, how many people have heard of Tom Kilburn?
Tom Kilburn, few of us knew until a newspaper report last month, is the man who headed the team which, at Manchester University in 1948, built the world's first-ever computer - yet another great British invention which revolutionised industry, technology and so much else.
Tom Kilburn was born into a humble Yorkshire family in 1922, his father being a railwayman. He worked hard to raise himself up from these beginnings, eventually studying maths at Cambridge. If ever there was an 'ordinary-boy-made-good' story, this was it.
Tom Kilburn ought to be a national hero - a name on everyone's lips, a great Briton whom young folk at school are taught about as a contributor to the long and glorious story of national achievement.
But instead, he lives in obscurity. His home is a modest bungalow just outside Manchester. He was a CBE in 1973 but unlike 'gay' icons Ian McKellen and Elton John, was never knighted. He has enough to spend his retirement years in reasonable comfort and security but has never possessed great wealth.
We ought to mention the name of Tom Kilburn whenever left-wing politicians start yapping about making Britain a 'meritocracy'. Some meritocracy - when men like him are almost forgotten, and freaks and degenerates swan around with titles, clink glasses with the mighty and live in grand houses in the manner of Earls and Dukes!
Webmaster's note: This article was originally published in 'Spearhead' magazine No.353, July 1998.
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