Today he claimed that "middle class" was a Marxist phrase but that's not that the OED says:
A. n. A class of society or social grouping between an upper and a lower (or working) class, usually regarded as including professional and business people and their families; (in sing. and pl.) the members of such a class. Cf. CLASS n. 4a(a).
The class is sometimes further differentiated, as lower-, middle-, upper-middle-class, etc.: see middle-middle-class n. and adj. at MIDDLE adj. and n.
Special uses 1, UPPER-MIDDLE-CLASS adj. and n.
In later use the categorization was partly superseded from the mid 1960s by one based on socio-economic categories named A, B, C1, C2, D, and E.
1745 J. BRADSHAW Scheme to prevent running Irish Wools to France 4 The lower and middle Class of their People appear'd at that time, well dress'd in Ratteens and Frizes; the better, or richer Class, wore Cloths of Ten Shillings per Yard. 1756 J. MASSIE Calculations Taxes for Family 8 By such Assertions, People of the middle or inferior Classes, may be prevented from pursuing..the Means to make future Provision for their Families. 1766 QUEEN CAROLINE MATILDA OF DENMARK Let. 25 Dec. in Mem. Unfortunate Queen (1776) 21 There is no such thing here as a middle class of people living in affluence and independence. 1792 T. PAINE Rights of Man II. v. 111 A poll-tax was levied... It excited, as it naturally must, universal detestation among the poor and middle classes. 1812 Examiner 31 Aug. 556/1 Such of the Middle Class of Society who have fallen upon evil days. 1831 LD. BROUGHAM Speeches 7 Oct. (1838) II. 617 By the people..I mean the middle classes, the wealth and intelligence of the country, the glory of the British name.
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