Lord Glasman promotes a new culture war- the Lanyardocracy
Skimming a Times Editorial (31st July) on civil servants and public officials (The Times wants to introduce ‘commercial expertise’ aka mates of Rupert Murdoch et al) I noted the use of the term ‘lanyardocracy’.
Of course whoever writes Times Editorials is mostly not of this planet, but surely they have noticed that the lanyard is worn by many in the public AND private sectors. Why. Primarily as security device to allow appropriate entrance to buildings and within the buildings to show that an individual is meant to be there.
Why this should cause an issue is unclear except that culture wars are not about coherent thought.
The term appears to have been made up only recently possiblby the right-wing Times columnist Janice Turner.
The Spectator has been promoting it along with, of course, Lord Glasman. He gave an interview when he droned on about it in May 2025 and has been quoted in the magazine in July 2025.
Look out for future usage but keep in mind that the lanyard has a practical purpose and is not associated with any particular perspective on the world. After all as someone employed firmly in the private sector I certainly have one.
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