saying he's posh... by talking about wealthy
people who profited from the British Empire.
The Prime Minister ummed and aahed as he
was sprung with the million-dollar question
today by ITV political interviewer Robert
Peston.
Two weeks ago Mr Peston asked Jeremy
Corbyn if he was middle class - and this time
it was the turn of the Eton-educated Tory
leader.
"The British people... think of you as pretty
privileged and pretty wealthy," Mr Peston said.
"Do you think of yourself as posh?"
Visibly a little uncomfortable, the PM replied:
"I can't hide my background or upbringing and
I never have done so.
"Other people would, er, probably say that.
"It's, er, it's a funny expression. It can mean
lots of different things. It originally meant
which side of a ship you were on when you
were travelling out to India."
The PM's claim was based on a long-held tale
that rich passengers would have "Port
Outward, Starboard Home" written next to
their names.
It meant they would be on the shady side of
the ship in both directions on the long trip to
the home of the British Raj.
However, Websters and Oxford Dictionaries
both say the term only emerged long after it
was said to have been used, and its origins
are in doubt.
During the interview today Mr Cameron added:
"My parents gave me an amazing start in life,
very warm family, great school, the chance to
get on and make the most of my life.
"What I want is to do as much of that as
possible for other people."
Mr Cameron made his comment despite Eton
College only having 1,300 pupils, all of them
boys. A fifth receive financial support towards
their £37,000-a-year fees.
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