The Mockney Accent
Mockney is a term used to describe an accent adopted by some privately educated individuals who attended public school (which, confusingly for non-British people, means a private, fee-paying school, not a state-funded one). These individuals often use Mockney to downplay their privileged upbringing and sound more “working-class” or “streetwise”.
In a highly class-conscious society like the UK, where significant social divides are often drawn along lines of education, upbringing, and background, an accent can be a powerful tool to blend in.
The adoption of a “Cockney” or “Mockney” accent by individuals from more privileged backgrounds is often a deliberate attempt to downplay their social standing. This can serve several purposes:
- Fitting In: Whether in professional environments or social circles, having an accent that allows one to “better relate to others” can be crucial for acceptance. For those wanting to connect with a broader or different group, shedding markers of privilege through speech can allow one to blend in more easily.
- Political Appeal: This phenomenon is particularly notable among politicians. By adopting Mockney, they aim to appear more authentic, relatable, and “in touch” with everyday people, especially those from working-class backgrounds. In a country where many feel a disconnect from the political elite, such an accent can bridge a perceived gap and potentially garner wider support.
- Managing Perceptions: For individuals who might feel their privileged upbringing could be a barrier in certain contexts, adopting a less “posh” accent can be a way to avoid being stereotyped or to draw attention away from their elite education or family background.
Essentially, in a society acutely aware of class distinctions, modifying one’s accent can be a strategic move to manage how others see them, build rapport, and broaden appeal across different groups.
George Osborne
George Osborne, a prominent figure in the Conservative Party who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2010 to 2016, attended St Paul’s School, a selective independent day school in London. Despite his privileged background and standard Received Pronunciation (RP) accent, Osborne’s attempt to adopt a Mockney accent during a speech drew significant attention and harsh criticism from the British media.
In this particular speech, Osborne was observed attempting to incorporate elements of a Cockney accent, including the use of glottal stops, guttural sounds, and flapping (such as pronouncing “British” as “Briddish”). However, his efforts were widely perceived as inconsistent and unconvincing, as he frequently weaved in and out unsuccessfully between his natural RP and the affected Cockney inflections.
Ultimately, both the media and the public saw through his attempts to connect with “the working man” through a fabricated accent. His efforts were largely deemed inauthentic and failed to achieve the desired effect of broadening his appeal.
Nigel Farage
Nigel Farage attended Dulwich College, a private day school in London, and he comes from a prosperous background. Despite his privileged upbringing and education, Farage does a very good job of drawing attention away from this. Nigel Farage and Reform UK have managed to attract support from a diverse range of voter
A key part of his success lies in his accent. Farage has managed to cultivate a speaking style that doesn’t sound like your typical right-wing politician. It’s somewhere between RP (Received Pronunciation) and Cockney. If you listen carefully, you’ll notice that his accent is slightly guttural. You can also hear the occasional aspirated RP sounds coming out of the front of the mouth. He also implements glottal stops here and there, and he’s careful not to round his lips too much.
Why is Farage able to pull this off so successfully? This is an accent that he’s probably cultivated over a long period of time, perhaps going as far back to when he was at Dulwich College. Unlike George Osborne, he didn’t just wake up one day and try to change his accent; he likely spent years cultivating it. From a young age, some public school boys make a conscious effort to develop a Mockney accent. A trained ear will notice it, but the average person wouldn’t be able to tell.
Rishi Sunak
Rishi Sunak attended Winchester College, a boarding school in Winchester, and was leader of the Conservative Party between 2022 and 2024.
As leader of the Conservative Party, Sunak likely faced the issue of being seen as “out of touch” with the general public. While he may have had humble roots, it certainly didn’t help that his wife was a billionaire and held non-domicile status. With this in mind, and with a general election looming and Labour gaining influence, he needed to find a way to appeal more to the average working-class person.
During his time as Chancellor of the Exchequer, he seemed comfortable speaking in his standard Conservative RP accent. However, upon being elected Prime Minister, things changed. During interviews with the media and when greeting the public, he tried his best to speak Mockney. You could hear him mixing in guttural sounds and glottal stops. However, this didn’t fool the public. Ultimately, he came across as someone desperate to hide his upbringing and wealth, which completely backfired.
Improve your pronunciation today: