The fact that Angela Rayner has described her journey from “a teenage mum from a council estate” to the highest levels of government as being “the honour of my life” is so sad, and a scandalous indictment of our country (Crisis engulfs Labour as Angela Rayner is forced to step down as deputy PM, 5 September).
Privilege and inequality exclude the majority of ordinary people from entering, let alone achieving, influential positions in politics, the judiciary, media, business and increasingly in sport and theatre.
The figures are astonishing. According to the Sutton Trust, 65% of senior judges, 57% of the House of Lords, 59% of permanent secretaries and 52% of diplomats are drawn from the 7% of the population who are privately educated. Achieving positions of influence in our society is less about merit and more about connections, accent and so on – all acquired at fee‑paying schools.
The ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, said that Ms Rayner “acted with integrity and with a dedicated and exemplary commitment to public service”, unlike some. In the unlikely event that you are from humble beginnings and emulate the achievement of Rayner, know that some privately educated newspaper columnists will be ruthless in their pursuit of you, because you are not one of them.
Dr Robin C Richmond
Bromyard, Herefordshire
• I am filled with sadness at Angela Rayner’s resignation. She always impressed me with her talent, feistiness and integrity. I do not believe that she deliberately intended to avoid tax on her flat purchase. She has paid the price for a mistake, but I continue to admire and support her. We need politicians like her.
Linda Rhead
Hampton, London
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