Labour MP, Chris Bryant, got into an argument he probably wasn’t expecting this week when he wrote in the Guardian that it wasn’t acceptable that the arts are dominated by the likes of Eddie Redmayne, James Blunt “and their ilk”. This was a reference to the fact that both had the benefit of a public school education, a fact that Bryant felt gave them an unfair advantage over other people with the same aspirations. James Blunt took exception to Chris Bryants comments and replied via an open letter. Here’s what he said:
“Dear Chris Bryant MP,
You classist gimp. I happened to go to a boarding school. No one helped me at boarding school to get into the music business. I bought my first guitar with money I saved from holiday jobs (sandwich packing!). I was taught the only four chords I know by a friend. No one at school had ANY knowledge or contacts in the music business, and I was expected to become a soldier or a lawyer or perhaps a stockbroker. So alien was it, that people laughed at the idea of me going into the music business, and certainly no one was of any use. In the army, again, people thought it was a mad idea. None of them knew anyone in the business either. And when I left the army, going against everyone’s advice, EVERYONE I met in the British music industry told me there was no way it would work for me because I was too posh. One record company even asked if I could speak in a different accent. (I told them I could try Russian). Every step of the way, my background has been AGAINST me succeeding in the music business. And when I have managed to break through, I was STILL scoffed at for being too posh for the industry. And then you come along, looking for votes, telling working class people that posh people like me don’t deserve it, and that we must redress the balance. But it is your populist, envy-based, vote-hunting ideas which make our country crap, far more than me and my shit songs, and my plummy accent. I got signed in America, where they don’t give a stuff about, or even understand what you mean by me and “my ilk”, you prejudiced wazzock, and I worked my arse off. What you teach is the politics of jealousy. Rather than celebrating success and figuring out how we can all exploit it further as the Americans do, you instead talk about how we can hobble that success and “level the playing field”. Perhaps what you’ve failed to realise is that the only head-start my school gave me in the music business, where the VAST majority of people are NOT from boarding school, is to tell me that I should aim high. Perhaps it protected me from your kind of narrow-minded, self-defeating, lead-us-to-a-dead-end, remove-the-‘G’-from-‘GB’ thinking, which is to look at others’ success and say, “it’s not fair.
Up Yours,”
Well I’m not a fan of James Blunts music but I’m a big fan of his philosophy. When you tell people that someone else has an advantage over them, that it’s unfair, that there isn’t a level playing field, you give them an excuse. You take the responsibility for their success or failure away from them, and you give them permission to fail.
Why go ‘all out’ if the cards are stacked against you? Why persist when the going gets tough if someone else is having it easier than you and it won’t be down to you if you don’t succeed? People like Chris Bryant are priming people from ordinary backgrounds to capitulate and to fail.
James Blunt is right of course. He has succeeded in an industry where his background offers no advantages, in fact quite the reverse. If public school kids are over-represented in the field of popular music, it’s not because of their contacts, and it’s not likely to be because they are more talented than average either. So what’s the secret?
It’s pretty simple really…
Public schools instil discipline and place huge emphasis on hard work, resilience and taking personal responsibility for your actions. They engender an environment characterised by achievement, and that builds confidence. These are precisely the attributes you need to be successful in any field.
The fact that Blunt has achieved success in music despite some natural disadvantages suggests that it’s down to the person he’s become rather than the people he knows. And if that’s true in music, maybe it’s true in Law, the City and other professions where people from Blunt’s background are perceived to prosper through contacts rather than ability or personal qualities.
Have we really reached the point where becoming a more hard working, resilient and resourceful individual is cause for someone to cry ‘foul’ and drag you back? What Bryant ‘and his ilk’ should be doing is encouraging ordinary folk to adopt the work ethic and personal qualities that will help them to succeed rather than giving them a justification for a self fulfilling failure. They should be endeavouring to push people up the tree rather than giving them a metaphorical gun to take pot shots at those who’ve had the audacity to climb it themselves.
The irony of all this is that Chris Bryant also went to a very expensive public school and later went on to Oxford. You have to wonder whether the fact that Westminster is dominated by people “of his ilk” concerns him in any way. Has he stopped to consider what kind of unfair advantages landed him in the lofty position he now occupies, and does he care? Well certainly not enough to write an article in a national newspaper about it, but I doubt there’d be many votes in it for him and his party if he did that.
Footnote If you’re on Twitter, James Blunt is well worth following. His putdowns to the people who abuse him are superb and there are some very funny tweets, for example:
My real name is James Blount, but I changed it as people teased me that it rhymed with ‘count’
Great letter from James Blunt straight to the point with humour best way to put down arrogant politicians.
Wonder what type of person would vote for Chris Bryant must have had a sheltered life.
Cheers
Alex
I see nothing contentious in your blog.
Statement of fact!
Agree wholeheartedly!
Have you ever seen crabs in a bucket? As one makes a bid for escape, the others try to drag him / her back!
The James Blounts of this world should be praised for their determination to succeed, and to do it on their own merits. I for one am delighted he is so articulate to put Chris Bryant in his place. One just feels so sorry there are so many crab-minds like Bryant’s so determined to drag / hold back those prepared to be their true selves and use their God-given talents giving pleasure and employment to others, and doing it so successfully.
I totally agree with James Blunt.
Many years ago I was told the following story:- A man and his son on a street corner in America see a huge Cadillac glide by. The man said to his son “There you are son, if you study hard, work hard and stick with it, you could have one of those one day.”
A man and his son on a street corner in England see a Rolls purr by. The man said to his son ” I hate those fat capitalist pigs, riding on the backs of us poor workers.”
I totally agree with James Blunt and his philosophy. And dare I say it? – I actually like his music 🙂
Mr Blunt is spot on – I so hate the politics of envy. They should get Bryant on Newsnight and ask him which school & university he went to, and whether he’s ever had a real job. They should also quote some of the paragraphs in JB’s response, and ask where he’s got it wrong – he is so right!!
I don’t think even James Blunt likes his own music as much as some other people do, but it’s an honest living. The man went off, risked his life, and fought in an ugly war. Let’s put the maggot Chris Bryant in a tank on the front line, and see how quickly he poos his pants!!
Hear Hear to James and you. Perhaps that wazzock and his ilk should spend less time on the politics of envy and more time improving the education in “State” schools, so their pupils might be as erudite and witty as James Blunt !
I agree wholeheartedly with the concensus of opinion
At least James Blunt is talented. As far as I can see Chris Bryant as no attributes at all.
Spot on it’s time the class envy got exposed .and the success of people’s hard work applauded. Nobody achieves anything sat on their ass . Success comes to all from any background if they work hard and don’t give up.
See http://www.youngandminted.com
Hi
What breathtaking arrogance by Chris Bryant! No wonder the country is in such a state if those are the view of politicians/party who wish to represent us, and have represented us.
Joy
Well done Mr Blunt!
It does not matter who you are where you are, what school you went to ot not. What matters is working at something you love,and doing the best that you can and enjoying the ride!
If one wants to become an entrepreneur, or work in a shop or own the shop, as long as one gets satisfaction from that work,then that is all that matters.
By the way, go getters come from ALL Backgrounds and levels of Education.
I am 83 years old and over the years it has been very noticeable that the Labour Movement in it’s various forms has always been laced with this ridiculous element of negativity. Always wanting to drag everyone down to the lowest common denominator and resenting anyone who shows any inclination to shine.
The ridiculous efforts of Blair and Co insisting everyone should have a university education whether they were suitable candidates or not. With his ” If it’s to tough just drop the standards mentality”.
I have been involved in nearly every aspect of Engineering in the past 70 years and the best men I have worked with have invariably come from a practical background with one or two exceptions.
Whenever Labour get into power there has always been a slide into the crap as with the last Labour regime.
I detest them but I will fight to the death for the right to elect them, after all this is what makes this country so Great. Society always gets what Society deserves.
John T Golder
What a pleb Chris Bryant is
People are people, what ever background they come from, if they have a thirst to get into politics, they don`t particularly care which party they represent. it`s politics ,a job for life. some even swap sides, they don`t care what you think, their just winding you up ,so they keep their jobs. It`s the civil servants
that run the country .
Russell Draper
I’m so glad that Streetwise Followers have the right mental attitude. Unlike the socialist politicians who play the envy card as their prime strategic weapon. One day (high hopes!) they will realise that in the entire history of the world, there have been many experiments in socialism – all have failed. ALL OF THEM! so don’t waste your valuable life on this spurious philosophy. It doesn’t work, it has never worked and it never will! Get stuck in, have a go at your dream, if it fails, try again or get another dream and keep on trying. I was beyond retirement age before my success finally came but it came at last and it is great! Jettison the Pillocks like Chris Bryant and cheer for the likes of James Blunt and John Harrison.
Well said James Blunt. Bryant and his ilk would willingly let this country go down the pan as long as they stayed in power. They use their insincere backing of the less well off, To further their own careers.
I agree with james blunt, but education is very important , the better your educated the more chance you may have in life, I think being educated in certain places does give people a certain advantage and I don’t think anyone could disagree with that, just look at the front benches of the tory and liberal party as an example
but I do agree talent will rise to the top eventually
And, davidcaledonia, being educated includes knowing the difference between “your” and “you’re”. As – note to John – does knowing the difference between “its” and “it’s” 😉
sorry , allan, your making a point but I don’t understand what your point is
If you really do not understand, I feel very sorry for you.
Chris Bryant should stay in the Labour bucket with the rest of the crabs trying to hold us back with their twisted lefty logic, just like they will do again if we let them back in to yet again bring GB to the brink of bankruptcy.
Precisely – and until our state schools realise this the longer they wil go one producing people who are incapable of living without the support of a benevolent government.
Such is man that quite a few manage to struggle against their education and make themselves good lives.
chris Bryant was making a valid point about jobs for the boys, but that happens wherever you go, its no coincidence that the conservatives front bench is full of millionaires, when I look at millionaires I see people who have more than their fare share of the cake
paul getty , the famous American oilman once said , I would rather have 10% of 100 men than 100 % of one man, that’s self explanatory, btw, mr getty was a very good employer, he paid good wages, look at this country today, foodbanks , part/time work, if you treat people as if they’re worthless you will get the society you create
,
What a load of Tory twaddle. It does help that Mr Bunt could afford to buy a guitar and afford to travel around the country along with other essential items which helped him get started in the first place.
Guitars and second hand cars aren’t the exclusive preserve of old Harovians you know. I had both at 18 and was skint.
Oh come on now Mac
As Jamie Blunt said, he had to work in the holidays to earn enough money to buy a used guitar, so it wasn’t given to him at all. I also had a used car at 17 and I lived in a staunch coal mining labour supporting area. I earned the money to buy mine at the local steelworks (now closed). So how can you claim that JB had things that “the rest of us” were unable to obtain? You are just another labour lefty demonstrating that crab in the bucket mindset. We certainly need more of the American attitude to success and to rid this country of the negative attitudes of Mr Bryant and his “ilk”.
Ian
To davidcaladonia,
It’s “fair” not fare.
My own viewpoint is that this is simply a continuation of the “Divide and Rule” ethos. Keep the masses arguing amongst themselves by consistently supplying biased information, partial truths, and outright lies, and you can do what the hell you like. Which is exactly how “they” are supposed to run it to maintain the status quo.
Bryant is typical of the envious British society. I apologise for tarring everyone with the same tar brush. Unfortunately the only people you hear from are the grumblers saying it isn’t fair, why am I not rich like him… They don’t seem to cotton onto the fact that this “rich” guy has worked extremely hard for his ” riches” . So why don’t they just go out and work as hard and they will find ” riches” . Not everyone can do the same job, if we all did there would be no-one actually making the country work. The politics of envy show the crab syndrome perfectly, if someone does good lets pull him down and stop him/her doing well. Why not celebrate that someone has done well and ask them how they did it so we can have a go too.
James Blunt – I love your music. I love your drive and enthusiasm and more to the point I love the way you stand up to the moronic Crabs that try to put you down and decry all your hard work.
To the person who said James was ok as he could afford to get a guitar and a car and drive round the country, do you not think he could afford to do that because he was working at other jobs to give him the money to do what he loves?
I am a pilot. I paid over £60,000 to become a commercial pilot. I paid that. I worked hard and saved hard to pay for it all. I got nothing from the government, but then I did not expect anything from them. This was my choice and I paid for it. Go to university and you get cheap education that you pay for only when you get a job earning over a certain amount. I paid upfront. So don’t go and say I am lucky because I am a pilot. I worked damn hard for the privilege and yes I love it.
All you crabs , go and get back in your bucket, or better, get a life. Your life is what YOU make it. It is not up to someone else to make it (easy or hard) for you.
We all wake up at the start of the day with 24 hours in front of us, how you fill that day is up to you.