Chums: How a Tiny Caste of Oxford Tories Took Over the UK

I bought this book in Kindle form in 2022 but have put off reading it until now, as I have read several other books about the antecedents and causes of Brexit. I have recently read Simon Kuper’s Ajax, The Dutch, The War and was very impressed - I also guessed that Simon’s background and pan-European perspective would provide different insights.I’m so pleased that I read it! Although I found the early chapters very familiar from my previous reading and thus a bit slow, it came alive and increasingly unputdownable at about half-way through and I particularly loved the last quarter of the book. The final chapter (conclusion and ideas about what to do about it) was particularly interesting to me because I have spent a lot of working life in higher education.Although the book is perhaps most attractive to anyone with an interest in, or experience of, education management, it is also a wonderful piece of social and political history and analysis - very strongly recommended!

This potent little book is the best explanation of Brexit and the chaotic management of the Covid 19 pandemic I have read.It is also an insightful look at the Establishment.The author depicts a frightening parallel universe of Britain’s elite universities and schools in which a privileged few play at politics in preparation for a career in the House of Commons.In this world what matters is not personal belief facts or truth but the development of the linguistic and polemical skills necessary to argue for any point or perspective.This lack of focus on facts and moral belief, a view that politics and governance is merely a game without consideration for real world consequences had devastating consequences for the public during the Covid pandemic.The elite Conservative cabinet and prime minister, as was recognised in the recent enquiry, possessed the wrong skill set to cope with Covid.They possessed too much of the wrong type of PPE- an education in Philosophy, Politics and Economics- and distinct lack of scientific understanding.This led to flawed decision making an ultimately deaths.Brexit is convincingly portrayed as a project adopted by the entitled elite as a means of reasserting their dominance and freedom to rule without the socially motivated interference of Europe. Brexit is viewed as the Establishment attempting to recreate the golden era of empire, Evelyn Waugh, Tolkien and CS Lewis.Thankfully this book and the revelations of the Covid 2019 inquiry have exposed the unsuitability of the elite to govern unfettered.The author details some encouraging changes to Oxford University which should prevent any future coups by an out of touch, entitled elite.

Still, a ruling class which looks after it's own interests and is self-perpetuating runs the UK largely for its own purposes. This book targets a group who are mostly part of a well-know, right-leaning clique as a result of where they were educated. Many are in the Tory party, but it points at a wider societal problem.Either way, we end up with a detached caste driven by myths of King Arthur and England's green and pleasant land (which is for their own use, primarily) mis-ruling the country. Solutions aren't offered, but the evidence presented suggests: as long as the rich can pay for their kids to get on to a privileged bandwagon, the cycle of class separation and differentiated opportunity will only continue.This book is not particularly for socialists. It provides evidence for anyone what needs to change for people, wherever they come from, to get to the top. Where we all need them.Interesting, well researched, entertainingly written.

What a fascinating, chilling and thoroughly depressing book (which I say as a comprehensive school educated Oxbridge graduate).So interesting to see that even in 2024 that nothing has really changed since the 19th century. The same people from the same school ruling in the same way.The most depressing part is how easy it is for these privileged & wealthy types to convince the world that they are somehow their heroes & standing on their behalf against “the elites”.Superbly written.

Gives you a lot of insight into how Johnson and the other Chums got to where they are, how they think, and what their ideologies are. The book does a good job of explaining the genesis of the Brexit movement and how it was influenced by these public schoolboys, for whom politics was more style than substance. And for whose caste nothing too bad could ever happen.But the book is written in a very haphazard fashion, with a strange timeline / build up of things. The topic had far more promise than the book delivered, hence 3 stars.

This is a fast-paced easy read which raises interesting questions about the role of Eton and Oxford in delivering Brexit. As an Oxonian of a slightly earlier vintage, I found his descriptions of the failings of the university somewhat overdone. He would have to confess that the Johnson and Cameron cliques are hardly a reflection of the breadth of the student body - even more so today I would venture to suggest. Still, his romp through their university careers is amusing and his descriptions of Rees-Mogg even funnier. Maybe he's a little too keen to connect the dots between their thirst for power (and entitlement to it) and the Brexit disaster, but it's an interesting point. Overall, a good read, and exceptionally well-written.

Excellent take down of Johnson and his chums.Well worth reading and it will enlighten you.

Provided a background to the political malise in the UK 😱