Collini takes aim at the myth of meritocracy. The idea that talent and effort alone determine success. He argues that this belief props up inequality by ignoring how much advantage is inherited, not earned. The essay unpacks how we confuse cultural capital (like education or taste) with economic power, and how talk of ‘the elite’ often muddles two very different groups: the highly educated but not wealthy, and the ultra-rich who shape policy from boardrooms. Collini’s message is sharp: meritocracy does not just fail to deliver fairness – it helps justify dynastic privilege while pretending the game is open to all. He also challenges the left to face hard truths about family advantage, intellectual reward, and the limits of redistribution. If we want real equality, we need to stop pretending the ladders are fairly placed and start asking who built them.