Practice drivers taking dwelling £80,000 yearly are formally categorised as working class below a Authorities classification framework.
The system, devised by the Workplace for Nationwide Statistics (ONS), additionally classifies law enforcement officials and jail workers, a lot of whom earn considerably much less, as center class.
The classification framework determines social standing primarily based purely on occupation sort quite than earnings.
Practice drivers are grouped below “lower supervisory and technical occupations” no matter their substantial pay packets.
Practice drivers are grouped below “lower supervisory and technical occupations” no matter their pay
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This classification has gained recent significance following ministers’ choice to limit a brand new Civil Service internship programme solely to candidates from working-class backgrounds.
The ONS methodology locations law enforcement officials, jail officers and lecturers within the “intermediate occupations” class, successfully barring their kids from the upcoming scheme regardless of these professions commanding decrease salaries than many practice drivers.
From subsequent August, Labour’s initiative will guarantee all new Civil Service interns come from working-class backgrounds, a transfer ministers have justified as serving to Whitehall “truly reflects the country”.
Eligibility relies on a father or mother’s occupation when the applicant was 14, with revenue taking part in no function.

Ministers mentioned limiting Civil Service internships to working-class candidates helps guarantee Whitehall ‘truly reflects the country’
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The UK Statistics Authority confirmed the method in correspondence with Lord Jackson, a former Conservative MP, saying that the methodology “does not incorporate income” when figuring out class standing.
HMRC statistics reveal that practice drivers incomes £80,000 sit throughout the high seven per cent of all British earners.
Against this, the Nationwide Careers Service lists common police officer salaries at £48,000, with jail officers usually receiving round £40,000.
Freedom of Info information obtained from Transport for London in November 2023 confirmed 2,600 Tube drivers had been paid between £70,000 and £80,000, whereas 235 earned between £80,000 and £90,000.
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HMRC statistics reveal that practice drivers incomes £80,000 sit throughout the high seven per cent of all British earners
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Pay for underground drivers is about to climb additional nonetheless after a latest settlement between the RMT union and TfL will push salaries near £80,000 inside three years.
Nationwide Rail’s highest-paid drivers work for LNER, the place wages are attributable to hit £80,000 following a deal struck to avert industrial motion.
Eurostar drivers command much more, averaging £87,000.
Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Alex Burghart described limiting positions to working-class candidates as “incoherent, unfair and arbitrary”.

Pay for underground drivers is about to climb additional nonetheless after a latest settlement between the RMT union and TfL
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“Children of working people face active discrimination in public life because of their parents’ occupation,” he mentioned.
Shadow Cupboard Workplace minister Mike Wooden mentioned: “Keir Starmer has been hoisted by his personal petard.
“His vindictive crusade against middle England has exposed that he’s never been working class.”
The Prime Minister has often referenced his father’s work as a toolmaker throughout election campaigning, although Lord Ashcroft’s ebook revealed his father really owned the Surrey toolmaking firm.
Sir Keir has acknowledged he “grew up working class” however not considers himself a part of that group.