'Inverted snobbery': Minister hits out at critics of £10k Rolex watch
Education secretary Gillian Keegan has defended herself following criticism of her Rolex watch
Keegan made the remarks during an interview on LBC where she claimed many teachers were in the top 10% of earners
The education secretary has previously came under fire for claiming nurses use food banks due to relationship break-ups or boilers breaking down
Read more about Keegan's remarks below
A minister has accused people who criticised her for defending nurses needing to use food banks while wearing a £10,000 Rolex watch of "inverted snobbery".
Gillian Keegan, the education secretary, made the remarks during an appearance on LBC to host Nick Ferrari.
Keegan came under fire last month after she appeared on Sky News wearing the pricey watch while claiming that nurses only need to use food banks due to broken boilers or relationships.
"I was quite surprised [by the criticism], really," Keegan told Ferrari on Wednesday.
"It's almost like assuming you're working class, you start working class, and you can't become anything else.
"I’ve worked for 38 years, I haven't stopped working."
Read more: Education Secretary Gillian Keegan Does Not Believe White Privilege Exists
Keegan started her career working as an apprentice at a car factor in Kirkby before becoming a businesswoman and entering parliament as an MP in 2017.
She added: "I guess I'm supposed to never have made anything of myself, never have made any money.
"I don't know... It's like an inverted snobbery or something.”
During the same interview she also claimed that teachers are among top 10% of earners in some areas ahead of planned industrial action by teachers in January.
"The reality is it’s a good career. It’s probably in the top 10% of earners in some parts of the country," she said.
According to the government, the starting salary for a newly qualified teachers outside London for 2022/23 is £28,000 - below the median salary for workers overall in the UK, which is £33,000 according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Members of the NASUWT trade union will walk out of classrooms next month, calling for a 12% pay award for 2022/23; their strikes will join a growing number of public sector walk outs this winter due to disputes over pay.
On Wednesday, thousands of ambulance workers staged a second day of strikes - with national highway staff walking out on Thursday.
Rail workers are planning strikes on the 24, 25, and 26 December, and from 3 to 7 January.
Read more: What strikes are happening in December?
It comes as the cost of living crisis continues to deepen for millions of Brits struggling with inflation at 10.7% in the 12 months to November and the average yearly energy bill hitting £2,500 in October.
This month the Joseph Rowntree foundation released research which revealed seven million UK households are going without essentials such as showers or adequate clothing.
The research also found three million households have not been able to afford to heat their homes since June.
Watch: Many nurses using food banks because of a broken relationship or boiler, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan says
