Seven social classes, not three, new study suggests

British people no longer fit into three social classes, with only one in seven in the “traditional working class”, a new study has suggested.

The UK also has an “elite” - just 6% of the population - who have savings of more than £140,000, extensive social contacts and education at top universities, according to the BBC’s online Great British Class Survey.

More than 160,000 respondents took part in the survey, the largest ever of its kind in the UK, the BBC said.

Researchers found the established model of an upper class, middle class and working class has “fragmented” and there are now seven classes ranging from the “elite” to the “precariat”.

Representing 15% of the population, the “precariat” earn just £8,000 after tax, have average savings of £800, with fewer than one in 30 gaining a university education.