There’s nothing the ruling Labour political class likes more than propagating the Oxbridge class myth that the Conservative party is a cosy PPE graduate club, its cabinet full of over-privileged Bullingdon members, whilst Labour is the party of merit, ‘social equality’ and equal opportunity. But a glance at his government appointments makes a joke of any idea that Labour is the real party of merit. This idea of an Oxbridge club that favours those with the right ‘connections’ is a Labour class warrior myth. Philip Gould, who died aged 61, was a founding member of New Labour who worked for 25 years to modernise the party. Burnham needs to be wary of parliamentary party and trade union resentment against this perceived political nepotism within the party.