Zoe Delaney, a journalist hailing from Lancashire and currently working as an Assistant Showbiz Editor for the Mirror in Liverpool, holds a soft spot for Gwyneth Paltrow, roots for Lindsay Lohan, and boasts the quirky talent of reciting Phoenix Nights episodes by heart. Beyond the glitz of celebrity life, Zoe is deeply involved in political issues and advocates for increased accessibility to arts careers for individuals from working-class backgrounds.
When it comes to discussions on working-class matters and labor rights, I make a conscious effort to steer clear of viewpoints from individuals with affluent family backgrounds to maintain my peace of mind. However, Kirstie Allsopp, daughter of Charles Allsopp, 6th Baron Hindlip, and her disconnected perspectives on society always manage to find a way into my social media feed.
Over time, Kirstie, who inherited around £1.5 million from her father, has repeatedly triggered my frustration, from suggesting that young people struggle to buy homes due to unwillingness to make sacrifices like cutting out luxuries, to critiquing remote work without acknowledging her own privileged position as a property tycoon’s spouse.
Recently, amidst the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) members’ industrial action over pay and hours, Kirstie Allsopp chimed in with her unconventional views. She suggested on Twitter that striking tube drivers could swap roles with a hospital nurse for a day, highlighting her detachment from the realities faced by essential workers.
While some may argue that Kirstie is showing empathy towards nurses and night shift workers, the underlying issue lies in her utilization of public service workers as pawns in a divisive narrative, reminiscent of her stance during the 2011 public sector strike involving nurses.
Despite attending multiple schools during her upbringing, Kirstie seems to have overlooked the concept that life shouldn’t be a race to the bottom. Blessed with inherited wealth, she remains distant from the struggles of the working class, perpetuating a divide rather than promoting unity among labor groups.
As the RMT emphasizes, solidarity among workers is paramount, as threats to one group’s rights jeopardize the collective. Kirstie’s inclination to question the earnings of London Underground workers rather than addressing systemic wage disparities reflects a disconnect from the realities faced by many.
While Kirstie’s social media outbursts may appear spontaneous, her remarks often fuel discord among labor factions, aligning with the establishment’s agenda of diverting attention from systemic issues. The RMT responded to her comments, highlighting the importance of their actions and the reasons behind the ongoing industrial dispute.
It is hoped that Kirstie considers the perspectives shared by the RMT and perhaps extends an apology. Nonetheless, in pursuit of self-care, I have chosen to remove her from my social media feeds to prioritize a more peaceful online experience.
