Things are going from bad to worse for Toby Young. Ah well.

Controversial right-wing commentator Toby Young used his latest Spectator column to tell the world about his “terrible year”, which was “probably the worst of my life”. It didn’t go well, though. In fact, many people read it and saw it as yet another rallying call for one of Young’s biggest fears: a Corbyn-led government.
‘If Jeremy Corbyn becomes prime minister’
Young reached out for sympathy because, this year, he “lost five positions, including my full-time job”; and he now feels he’s “been surgically removed from every VIP list”. The Christmas cards and party invites just aren’t coming now, apparently. He “quite enjoyed being made a fuss of” in his old life. Now, it seems, no one cares.
Apparently, it isn’t all bad. But then “there’s the money — or lack of it”. As he continued:
it’s only now that I’m relying on it entirely that I realise just how difficult it is to make a living from being a hack… Poor Caroline [Young’s wife] has had to take a part-time job to keep the wolf from the door. If interest rates go up, or Jeremy Corbyn becomes prime minister and introduces a property tax, we’ll have to sell the house.
In other words, Tory Young just got a faint reality check about what life is like for millions of people in Tory Britain. Poor Toby, poor Caroline. Not.
“Twitter outrage mob”
What made Young’s column worse, however, was him blaming a “Twitter outrage mob” for his downfall. None of it, of course, is his own fault.
But that same ‘mob’ had plenty to say in return.
Read on...
Some pointed out the obvious:
Toby Young blaming being universally disliked on a Twitter mob and not the fact he’s a complete wanker
— Sam (@Sam____F) December 13, 2018
oh the power of social media, some are begining to learn although big brother may be watching us, little sister in social media is certainly watching those who insult them….. well done Twitter, Facebook and other honest media outlets.. Toby Young is now licking his own wounds.
— Isobel (@Isobel_waby) December 13, 2018
Just days after Alan Sugar said he’d leave the country if Corbyn was prime minister, Young’s comments went down well:
It has been a week for endorsements. First Lord Sugar says he will leave the country if Jeremy Corbyn becomes PM. Now Toby Young says he'll have to sell his house. Who says politicians dont make a difference?
— keith flett (@kmflett) December 13, 2018
Toby Young has the position that he has in society through privilege of birth and he can't stand the notion that #Corbyn and #Labour want a fairer country
— Martin O'Neill (@DrNostromo) December 13, 2018
First Lord Sugar is leaving the country, now Toby Young will have to sell his house. The smears against our next Prime Minister, Jeremy Corbyn, have gotten so ridiculous that they're now endorsements! 🤣🤣🤣
— Baywatch Bolshevik (@Decommodified) December 13, 2018
Others were gentler, but pointed out the reality of Tory policy:
I want to point and laugh at you @toadmeister Toby Young, but as somebody who actually DID lose their home of 25 years because of politicians (Bedroom Tax) I wouldn't wish that on anybody. I hope you can find some honest employment to help you keep your home
— Cardinal Jools (@openjools) December 13, 2018
Toby Young has just found out what it’s like to live in a world where nepotism and cronyism doesn’t exist as levers to help him.AKA the real world for everybody else.for him it’s a cold place where he’s struggling to pay bills and his wife has to work.AKA reality under the Tories
— Shardon (@shardon1980) December 13, 2018
A lot of people also shared reminders from Young’s past:
Nine of the worst things Toby Young has said https://t.co/NBkhmQQBuY
— firechild (@firechild) December 13, 2018
And some pointed out his questionable position on Israel:
Along with JKR, Toby Young has refused to support a cultural boycott of Israel. Building bridges with Israel has only served to embolden Israel to inflict mass terror on the Palestinian ppl. https://t.co/fRLgsUhqbk
— Suzy S (@PalestinePR) December 13, 2018
Quelle Surprise. Toby Young is pro Israel. https://t.co/gle4bc94Ve
— Suzy S (@PalestinePR) December 13, 2018
Karma?
It’s true, Young has had quite a ‘tricky’ year. In January, he was forced to resign from his role with the university watchdog Office for Students. As The Canary reported, Young’s appointment caused widespread controversy. But in his Spectator column, yet again Young claimed he was victim to “attacks” from a “twitchfork mob”.
In a letter to Theresa May, Labour MPs Angela Rayner and Dawn Butler criticised Young’s “long history of misogyny and homophobia”. As The Canary also reported, the real reason Young resigned was an exposé by Private Eye revealing Young attended a secret conference on eugenics in 2017.
After that, not surprisingly, few people wanted to employ Young. Certainly not in education.
Now, here he is again, blaming everyone but himself for his problems. Jog on Young, we’ve all had enough.
Featured image via Out RAjious/Flickr
We need your help to keep speaking the truth
Every story that you have come to us with; each injustice you have asked us to investigate; every campaign we have fought; each of your unheard voices we amplified; we do this for you. We are making a difference on your behalf.
Our fight is your fight. You’ve supported our collective struggle every time you gave us a like; and every time you shared our work across social media. Now we need you to support us with a monthly donation.
We have published nearly 2,000 articles and over 50 films in 2021. And we want to do this and more in 2022 but we don’t have enough money to go on at this pace. So, if you value our work and want us to continue then please join us and be part of The Canary family.
In return, you get:
* Advert free reading experience
* Quarterly group video call with the Editor-in-Chief
* Behind the scenes monthly e-newsletter
* 20% discount in our shop
Almost all of our spending goes to the people who make The Canary’s content. So your contribution directly supports our writers and enables us to continue to do what we do: speaking truth, powered by you. We have weathered many attempts to shut us down and silence our vital opposition to an increasingly fascist government and right-wing mainstream media.
With your help we can continue:
* Holding political and state power to account
* Advocating for the people the system marginalises
* Being a media outlet that upholds the highest standards
* Campaigning on the issues others won’t
* Putting your lives central to everything we do
We are a drop of truth in an ocean of deceit. But we can’t do this without your support. So please, can you help us continue the fight?
-
Show Comments
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to leave a comment.Join the conversationPlease read our comment moderation policy here.