Do you have to be related to David Cameron in some way now to get a top job?

[Tellmetruth4]

The new editor of the Evening Standard is his sister in law and the head of the new track and trace system was his mate from school. There is increasing corruption in this country. Why are we accepting this?

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8369217/amp/NHS-test-trace-tsar-Dido-Harding-board-Cheltenham-Festival.html

www.theguardian.com/media/2020/jun/12/emily-sheffield-succeeds-george-osborne-as-evening-standard-editor

[topcat2014]

I wasn't aware the evening standard was public sector though, so surely they can appoint who they want. ?

No need for that fake advertising you always get.

Mind you, you have got a point.

[flamingochill]

You forgot to mention that George Osbourne is the editor standing down- another Cameron connection

[eddiemairswife]

What does he do now? I think of him 'chillaxing' in one of his shepherds' huts.

[Tellmetruth4]

Do our leaders (government and business) just look through their dinner party lists when deciding who gets jobs? They surely aren’t reviewing CVs and selecting based on who’s most competent.

They aren’t even pretending anymore and clearly don’t care what us proles think.

[Ravenclawgirl]

How exactly is Dido Harding his mate from school? He went to Eton!

Or is she transgender and we're back to that argument?

[Holymolymackerel]

It's a bloody joke. Don't trust any of them.

[Tellmetruth4]

She was on the same PPE course with him at Oxford.

[DippyAvocado]

She's also married to the Conservative MP for Weston Super Mare. I know little about her other than that she was head of Talk Talk and I wouldn't want women not to get a job just because of who they are married to but I think the government does have a history of nepotism (as do previous governments) and they need to make sure there can be absolutely no question the appointees for important public positions are there because they are the best person for the job.

[flamingochill]

She studied with him at Oxford according to Wiki

[UserFriendly14]

I’m no fan of DC, but hasn’t she been associated with the paper for some time?

[Shimy]

Well, what are the chances someone who went to Oxford at the same time as Cam, plus current chair for NHS improvement etc might become new head of track and trace?

[Puffykins]

She is the former Deputy Editor of Vogue, a columnist for the Standard, and has founded and directed a start up online media outlet. She is an excellent journalist, and totally qualified for the job at the Standard. Her sister just happens to be married to DC.

[HostaFireAndIce]

Her sister is Samantha Cameron now? I'm not even sure she has a sister.

[Puffykins]

Yes, Emily Sheffield and Samantha Cameron are sisters.

[SimonJT]

I went to Cambridge, a great number of my friends gained employment by phoning their contacts. Some are now hold power, that scares me.

My boyfriend went to a very very good boarding school, he lost his job due to covid, the fathers of a few of his boarding friends have offered him a few jobs, all jobs he has zero experience in. A few were genuinely horrified that he was volunteering at a local food distribution centre.

[HostaFireAndIce]

Yes, Emily Sheffield and Samantha Cameron are sisters.

Oh, sorry, I thought we were still talking about Dido Harding! My bad.

[KenAdams]

OK - your dad is an MP and is from a rich family and my dad is an immigrant and works in a warehouse.

We both do PPE but I got into Oxford Brookes but you got into Oxford. This might have had something to do with all the stuff you did in your gap year and all the relevant work experience your dad sorted out for you. Meanwhile, I worked in a call centre in my gap year to fund uni.

At Oxford you know quite a few people - their dads are MP's too or belong to the same clubs, go to the same parties as your dad. You become the next generation of that circle. You marry in that circle, socialise with it, buy a house in Chipping something or other. You have parties, frequent the same clubs as your circle and your children get to know each other. And so it goes on.

Meanwhile, I have managed to get a public sector job starting on £17k but I've worked my way up and now I'm a manager on £35k. I can't afford a house in Chipping whatever on that so I live in Derby instead. It's a lovely area for my needs but a bit far for me to socialise in the same places as you.

We both have the same qualifications but you had more opportunities and connections. That's why you know all the MP's/newspaper editors/hedge fund managers/top civil servants etc.

Does that make sense? That's why people at the top are so connected and why there might be barriers for other people to break into that circle to get those jobs.

[ukgift2016]

I hate David Cameron. The worse prime minister in decades.

[MockersGuidedByTheScience]

I think of him 'chillaxing' in one of his shepherds' huts.

With an unfortunate porker?

[Tigger85]

Sorry posted my update in the wrong open tab, please ignore and can any admins delete it please? Sorry

[AdoptedBumpkin]

It probably doesn't hurt to be related to or friendly with any former Prime Minister.

[Abraid2]

So one of those two you named is an in law and the other one is not related to him?

[GrumpyHoonMain]

Cameron’s grandfather (or great-grandfather) is also credited for expanding HSBC. The Camerons’ wealth is pretty much built on HSBC shares which I presume is why his government bailed out the banks.

[Duchessofealing]

HSBC weren’t bailed out so not sure what that has to do anything, plus it was a Labour government who bailed out the banks (Darling was chancellor).