Train drivers taking home £80,000 annually are officially categorised as working class under a Government classification framework.
The system, devised by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), also classifies police officers and prison staff, many of whom earn significantly less, as middle class.
The classification framework determines social standing based purely on occupation type rather than earnings.
Train drivers are grouped under “lower supervisory and technical occupations” regardless of their substantial pay packets.
Train drivers are grouped under “lower supervisory and technical occupations” regardless of their pay
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This classification has gained fresh significance following ministers’ decision to restrict a new Civil Service internship programme exclusively to applicants from working-class backgrounds.
The ONS methodology places police officers, prison officers and teachers in the “intermediate occupations” category, effectively barring their children from the upcoming scheme despite these professions commanding lower salaries than many train drivers.
From next August, Labour’s initiative will ensure all new Civil Service interns come from working-class backgrounds, a move ministers have justified as helping Whitehall “truly reflects the country”.
Eligibility is based on a parent’s occupation when the applicant was 14, with income playing no role.
Ministers said limiting Civil Service internships to working-class applicants helps ensure Whitehall ‘truly reflects the country’
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The UK Statistics Authority confirmed the approach in correspondence with Lord Jackson, a former Conservative MP, saying that the methodology “does not incorporate income” when determining class status.
HMRC statistics reveal that train drivers earning £80,000 sit within the top seven per cent of all British earners.
By contrast, the National Careers Service lists average police officer salaries at £48,000, with prison officers typically receiving around £40,000.
Freedom of Information data obtained from Transport for London in November 2023 showed 2,600 Tube drivers were paid between £70,000 and £80,000, while 235 earned between £80,000 and £90,000.
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HMRC statistics reveal that train drivers earning £80,000 sit within the top seven per cent of all British earners
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Pay for underground drivers is set to climb further still after a recent agreement between the RMT union and TfL will push salaries close to £80,000 within three years.
National Rail’s highest-paid drivers work for LNER, where wages are due to hit £80,000 following a deal struck to avert industrial action.
Eurostar drivers command even 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 set to climb further still after a recent agreement 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 said.
Shadow Cabinet Office minister Mike Wood said: “Keir Starmer has been hoisted by his own petard.
“His vindictive crusade against middle England has exposed that he’s never been working class.”
The Prime Minister has frequently referenced his father’s work as a toolmaker during election campaigning, though Lord Ashcroft’s book revealed his father actually owned the Surrey toolmaking company.
Sir Keir has acknowledged he “grew up working class” but no longer considers himself part of that group.