I Agree with Ed

My political views have come a long way. From hearing my mother telling me she voted for a Mr. Major in 1997 (I always wondered who the other Tory voter was!) and my friend John telling me we'd all have to work harder at school because the work party had won (Labour!), things have subtly moved left. Perhaps the biggest influence in turning me into the mild democratic-socialist I seem to have ended up as has been the crisis of capitalism from late 2007 onwards. It was easy really. 'Casino banking' had forced the government to act as the lender of last resort, causing it to rack up huge debts which the public subsequently punished it for running up. Therefore, bankers are bad, and the culture they had bred in the City of London was totally detached and unreal to those of us who had no access to it.

So it was with some trepidation yesterday that I found myself on the train to London, going to a private art gallery just off Saville Row for an event with my university for alumni who donate money to the university. I'd been roped into this as my MA is part funded by money the History Department receives from an alumnus. To get to the art gallery we were taking over, we had to walk down Regent's Street and then a maze of side streets. Now, my parents are both from London, my grandparents still live there, and I've lived close enough to it to say I know it wellish. That short walk from Piccadilly Circus tube station to the gallery blew me away. As a history student interested in politics, the only thing I could think was that well known Edward Heath quote:

It is the unpleasant and unacceptable face of capitalism, but one should not suggest that the whole of British industry consists of practices of this kind

The guest list once we got to the place and set up didn't do much to improve my mood. My university seems to have generated a disproportionate number of bankers, stockbrokers and various other City type jobs, most of which, to me at least, simply appeared as words on the page. Most (or least) impressive was the presence of the political director of a right-wing pressure group (I won't name it, but it has to do with taxpaying...). I reckoned I was in for an awkward evening.

Well, I was wrong. Within half an hour or so if the event starting, I'd bumped into none other than the man who had given the university the money for my MA, the man who had made it possible for me to even still be at university. After nearly falling over myself to thank him, we got round to chatting about university life in general. Then the Vice-Chancellor swans over. Not exactly popular with his students, he proceeded to ask my donor what he did for a living. Shock horror; he works for RBS. RBS. 84% owned by the taxpayer, the symbol of the excess and recklessness which dug us into this hole.

Still trying to marry the concept of 'evil financier' with the great guy I'd just met, who was willing to give away his money in order to help those who wanted to study, there were two speeches which cemented my view. One was by a current first year, describing how the grant she got was all that enabled her to even be at university. It was incredibly powerful stuff, and moved one or two people to tears.

Then the Chancellor of my university bounded up. I like him. Hounded out of a high profile media job in 2004, in the eyes of many taking the fall for the then Prime Minister, I have more memory of him thanks to his portrayal on Dead Ringers at the time (No prizes for guessing who he is!). One thing he said stuck in my mind. He asked how many of those present had attended university during the years when the state gave a full grant for fees and living maintenance. Most of the attendees hands went up. The Chancellor then posed a question: for the generation which "had it all," isn't it only fair that they help the next generation who can see the ladder being pulled away from them? Virtually everyone was nodding.

I suppose where this leaves me, rather annoying, is in full agreement with Edward Heath. There is indeed, the unpleasant and unacceptable face of capitalism, which cannot be allowed to continue to play Russian roulette with people's jobs and money. But even amongst those traditionally labelled as the 'bad guys,' there is cause for hope. Not all of those who have come to represent the unpleasant and unacceptable face of capitalism are 'bad.' One should not suggest that the whole of British industry consists of practices of this kind. Things are rarely that simple.

Oh, and my newfound friend? He works for the business investment arm. So everybody wins...

P.S. Apologies to those of you who were drawn here expecting to hear about the other Ed. Doubtless he will make an appearance at some stage in the future...