New flatmate has made me feel very uncomfortable - wealth and politics

I don't think it was given to me on a plate, I work hard for what I get and so did my family.

Next she said that the class system in the UK was really obvious, and that if you, or your parents, earn more than £80,000 a year, then you're middle class.

Just be yourself! Don't worry about how much money your parents have or where you went to school.

I'm the same as you (affluent family, privately schooled all my life, house in the country and I "talk posh" ), and totally different to every single person on my course. So of course I'm the posh toff (despite the fact that some of my coursemates have much larger houses etc!) - but why should I be ashamed of that? There's nothing wrong with coming from a well-to-do background is there? As long as you're not an arse about it, I don't see why you feel like you have to cover up where you're from.

People love to make out that well off families don't work hard for their money and that they and their children just get everything handed to them on a plate, when usually the opposite is true. My mum and dad (both from not so well off backgrounds) worked their arses off at school and uni to become doctors so they were able to afford to send me to a private school, where everyone also worked their arses off. Yes, there are a few people who are so well off that they and their children don't have to lift a finger, but they are a very small minority.

One of the first things she said was that she was an avid Labour supporter. Obviously there's nothing wrong with that, we're all entitled to our own opinions and I didn't mention where I stand politically because I didn't want things to be awkward between us right from the offset.

She then announced that the Conservatives steal money from the poor by taking away all of their benefits. Again, I chose not to say anything because I didn't want to get mixed up in politics. Then she claimed that there shouldn't be private schools, as the pupils who go there don't have to work as hard as state school pupils, and that private school parents will give their children enough money to let them do what they want to do anyway.

I moved into university last week and didn't know anyone I am living with. There's one girl who I haven't seen very much since I've been here, but I only spoke to her properly today and she made me feel really uncomfortable.

One of the first things she said was that she was an avid Labour supporter. Obviously there's nothing wrong with that, we're all entitled to our own opinions and I didn't mention where I stand politically because I didn't want things to be awkward between us right from the offset.

She then announced that the Conservatives steal money from the poor by taking away all of their benefits. Again, I chose not to say anything because I didn't want to get mixed up in politics. Then she claimed that there shouldn't be private schools, as the pupils who go there don't have to work as hard as state school pupils, and that private school parents will give their children enough money to let them do what they want to do anyway.

Next she said that the class system in the UK was really obvious, and that if you, or your parents, earn more than £80,000 a year, then you're middle class.

Here's where it becomes awkward: I have been private schooled my entire life and I feel I have worked hard to get where I am. My parents earn more than £80,000 a year and have also worked hard to achieve that and they have been fortunate enough to be successful. I don't consider myself to be middle class, though, nor do I think that earning a certain amount of money makes you middle class. I think it's more about how you act and carry yourself. I don't think many people are middle class anyway.

Sorry, I've gone off point. It's just made me really feel uneasy around her. I feel like she's looking down her nose at me because she sees her life as being more 'real' than mine. She also keeps pushing her beliefs and talks over me if what I say opposes her.

Obviously I'm going to try to avoid talking about such things with her to avoid confrontation, but I'm worried that if she's so opinionated already, what will she be like when the kitchen gets a bit messy or something?

TSR, I'm just asking about how I can deal with someone like her? Any help would be appreciated! Thanks.

£30k a year is too low and closer to the average salary in this country overall. Thats still working class.

Most people regard middle class as being over £50-60k, both parents working or at least one working in a very senior professional occupation/successful business person and then you have the other distinct traits like sending your kids to private school, frugal (not stingy) attitude towards money amongst other cultural traditions and such.

I personally, wouldn't let her keep you quiet - University seems like a great place to act and be like yourself, don't let her stop you being that.

The way I see it; the OP doesn't want to talk politics with this rude idiot so they shouldn't feel forced to do so.
If who you are is someone who isn't interested in arguing about politics then being who you are means not arguing about politics.

at the end of they day they're stuck in the same flat together for the foreseeable and uneasy truce is better than open warfare.

Of course - I completely agree, I just meant not to let themself act like someone they're not just to please her and just to be themselves.