As to what might come next, the FT draws a parallel to the Second World War:

But there we begin to see the FT’s true — and essentially unchanged — agenda. It’s the same globalist, technocratic stuff they’ve always believed in. The precise balance between the respective roles of state and market has been adjusted, but not the underlying value system.

For all the stir caused by the FT’s shift in position, there’s no hint of a true rethink; no doubts expressed about the dangers of hyper globalisation; no regret for what the paper itself has done to further the triumph of Davos Man over the common man.

Note that reference to “basic income” — which is the liberal elite’s idea of getting radical. What working people actually want is the opportunity to earn a decent wage, which means not under-cutting them with cheap migrant labour and state-subsidised outsourcing to the People’s Republic of China.

As for wealth taxes, they might have a role if they target the genuinely wealthy instead of expropriating the prudent middle class. But I wonder how the FT’s newfound aversion to excess wealth squares with its continued publication of How to Spend It — a luxury goods supplement? Current features include ‘Five enchanting secret jewels’ and ‘An exclusive look inside Patek Philippe’s new HQ’. There’s also a handy gift guide — where you can pick up such essentials as a coffee machine for £975; a cigar cutter for a very reasonable £85; or, for those on a budget, a tube of posh toothpaste for a mere £20.

But, please, do tell us more about inequality…

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Peter Franklin is Associate Editor of UnHerd. He was previously a policy advisor and speechwriter on environmental and social issues.

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