The middle class

Upper middle class

The upper middle class in Britain typically consists of professionals with tertiary education, speaking Received Pronunciation. The higher upper middle class are traditionally educated at more prestigious Public Schools. The lower section of the upper middle class tend to occupy less prestigious public schools.

Traditional careers would include barristers, doctors, Army officers, academics, art dealers, senior civil servants and working within the City of London in high managerial positions.

This is a very specific class in England and is, in many respects, peculiar to England as its characteristics do not fit easily within the social gradations of the other constituent nations of the United Kingdom. Frequently its members are members of professions (traditionally law, military, finance), although merchants too were able to penetrate its ranks. However, being a member of a profession does not automatically elevate a person to this class, and it is quite common for an upper middle class person not to work in a traditional profession.

Any British subject can apply for arms from their respective authority but only those of sufficient social standing would be granted arms. A right to bear arms under the Law of Arms is, by definition, linked either to the personal acquisition of social status, inspiring application for a personal grant of arms, or to descent from a person who did so in the past. Therefore, the use of a coat of arms is linked to social prestige.

Popular modern day examples of the upper middle class include David Cameron (British Prime Minister), Hugh Grant (British Hollywood actor), Matthew Pinsent (British Olympian and TV personality) and Christopher Cazenove.

Middle middle class

Middle middle class in Britain typically consists of bourgeois with degrees from the less prestigious universities, or possibly no tertiary education. They would speak in accents which are provincial as well as received pronunciation. They would be engaged in owning and running local businesses; working for larger corporations as junior and middle management; teaching, engineering, accountancy, information technology, nursing and other skilled jobs. They prefer to channel excess income into investments, including property. They are highly politically and socially engaged and might be regular churchgoers, sit on local committees and governing boards or stand for political office. Education is greatly valued by the middle classes: they will make every effort to ensure their children get a university education; although they are often unable to afford private schooling, they will go to great lengths to get their children into "good" state schools. They also value culture and make up a significant proportion of the book-buying and theatre -going public. They prefer TV documentaries and dramas over reality shows, BBC radio 4 over pop stations and broadsheet newspapers over tabloids. The comedy character Margo Leadbetter is a satirical stereotype for this group, as is Jilly Cooper's Howard Weybridge.