Mr Coren. I am a City Banker, and unlike the moany solicitors, of which there are too many, I thought this was hilarious. Good work.

J, Edinburgh,

Mr Coren, I resent you claiming lawyers and bankers are equally rich and unpleasant. I am a City solicitor, and earn a fraction of what bankers earn which does, I believe, result in me being marginally less obnoxious. Apart from that, wonderful article.

Thomas, London,

Mr Coren, I am a City solicitor and actually was oblivious to the fact that I would be happier living naked on a heath eating dormice. I must try that this Saturday.

Anna Hill, London,

You express a view just as entrenched as those you seek to criticise, especially when read in the context of a column suggesting the privately educated skip university to give the oiks a chance to catch up. Both of them are cloaked in a weird anger. Continued good luck with the restaurant reviewing.

Beth, London,

Finally an article that is music to my ears ... haaa, I think I'll read it again.

I feel that the point being highlighted throughout was one based on simple jealousy, spite, arrogant fact-lite approach on society. In fact it appears that Toynbee and her friends are the ones disempowering people.

Hardeep Singh, Farnham Common, UK

Giles, you are completely delicious! Your series with Sue P was a delight and your constant rants on any given subject are delectable. It's a pity you don't have an online blog (? do you), where I could just tap in to your witty and engaging take on the world and just listen whenever!

Elizabeth Portman-Lewis, Hereford, UK

Haha i do think Polly Toynbee is slightly biased to loathe private schools. You would have thought the bitterness of failing her 11 plus would have subsided slightly by now...

Vicky, Dorchester,

I would be more inclined to take notice of Toynbee and her ilk if they were to sell their possessions and give the money to the deserving poor rather than merely earning enormous salaries writing this risible cant.

Betty Stringer, Bungay, England

Oxford colleges have to include ensuite bathrooms in any new builds as they are now unable to secure conference bookings without them. Many colleges rely heavily on the profits they make from these conferences.

a, London,

Some time ago I wrote to you to call you something rude when you wrote a very disparaging piece about the Yang Sing in Manchester. I would now like to apologise, anyone who can write a piece that scathing about Polly Toynbee cannot possibly be what I called you. Apologies. Loved the article.

Vikki Watmough, Manchester, UK

Excellent piece.

By the way, Keble does indeed have ensuite bathrooms these days - even in the original buildings. As someone else said, better for the conference trade.

JD, Rushden, UK

For what it's worth, I entirely forgive you for the email to the subs on the basis of this brilliant piece of satire.

Oscar India, London, UK

If you'd like to see Ms. Toynbee described somewhat more earthily than in Giles' piece, visit The Devil's Kitchen blog. Oh, and check out the archive stuff, too.

JD Talwin, Preston,

Absolute genius !
Thank you Mr Coren !

A Matache, Cambridge,

The Guardianistas saw what they wanted to see. The truth is that the City - for better or worse - has generated enormous wealtth and paid its taxes to the Labour government. The result is rust stained former polytechnics. Just one reason why the nation is utterly sick of this government.

John, Bangkok, Thailand

The lawns may be manicured in Polly Toynbee land, but facts are conveniently disregarded in yours. Most Oxford colleges have some en-suite rooms these days; I had my own bathroom in my 2nd year at St. Hilda's, and friends at Merton, Worcester & St. Anne's spent at least one year in an ensuite room!

Heather Ryan, Liverpool, UK

"Marbled, gilded, and golden. Dave and Polly are good. They should do bathrooms."

Thank you for the smile Mr. Coren!

Andrew, Wales, United Kingdon

Couldn't agree more. I'm from a working class family and hope to study at Cambridge, and the universities themselves do nothing to stop state school pupils applying, it's often people in the media and teachers in state schools that come up with these silly 'facts' in an attempt to discourage you

Natalie Marshall, Sheffield, England

I wonder if Polly has ever thought of doing stand-up comedy.

Keith, Grantham,

you left out quaffing instead of drinking their wine. oh and also I never heard chinless wonders mentioned once,

Eddy, Bury St.Edmunds,

Mr. Robertson, it is not silence that Britain needs from the left. You must defeat them in elections for half a century.

George Steiner, Lachine,

Bridge of Sighs indeed. What a pity the lovely photo (in the print version) to this otherwise spot-on article shows St John's Cambridge, rather than the Oxford college of the same name referred to in the piece. But then again, John's Cambs is the infinitely the prettier ....

David Miller, Kilmacolm,

"Polly Toynbee is a joke, always has been. I never read anything she writes - Chris Wood, Camberley"

Then whether you're right or wrong, you're not really entitled to an opinion then are you?

Homer, London,

APU?
I "Googled " but am still non the wiser.

David Tomlinson, Poole, United Kingdom

Absolutely excellent piece. First-class denunciation of the damage caused by such supposedly well-meaning and concerned members of the liberal cognoscenti as Toynbee. I speak as someone from a working-class family and an industrial part of Birmingham who won a place to study at St John's,Oxford.

T.A.Bennett, Birmingham,

There's a bigger picture here. The Left must begin to realise that their ideologies produced the catastrophes of the sad twentieth century from National Socialism to all the other sorts. The Left bears a terrible burden of responsibility. It's time that we started to experience a period of silence

robertson, southampton, uk

Excellent article re Toynbee et al, punchy and honest. Could not agree more about their self defeating approach. Did not think GC had this in him. More please.

Neil Anderson, Bridgetown, Barbados

Wonderful stuff, Giles Coren (on Toynbee and Walker). You are brilliant! You made my day with this article.

Ruth Scott, Abingdon, UK

As a graduate of a one of the rusting ex polys I would like to say it is neither rusting, or out dated but an excellent educational establishment with en suit rooms! I am proud to say I graduated from APU. My father is a Fellow at Cambridge and holds APU in VERY hight esteem. Take that Toynbee!

Matilda Moore, Norwich, England

What type floor tiles does Polly have in her second home in Tuscany?

kevin atkinson, London,

Coren on Toynbee and Walker...Hooray!!!! I read a Guardian once and am still in recovery. This helps. More please. Not that more are needed, but, how about, "Mrs. Ramsbotham, We need to discuss your son's weight; pull up a couple of chairs and sit down."

J.F. Jackson, Banbury, United Kingdom

Polly Toynbee is a joke, always has been. I never read anything she writes and cannot understand why anybody does, unless, of course they are Guardianistas, who need somebody to confirm their prejudices.c

Chris Wood, Camberley, UK

I have only read Giles's restaurant reviews before and found his column intelligent and humorous. But i was surprised he didn't use the classic example of Mr and Mrs Meoff and their son Jack. Keep up the good work.

Mitchell Wilkinson, london, England

Excellent article, and inspired names of children...

John Ball, Norwich, UK

Wonderful stuff. Toynbee has hypocrisy written into her DNA. Still, with you and Littlejohn taking the mick it does provide a bit of fun now and again.

john miller, london,

Poly Toynbee is a perfect example of the Miss Havisham syndrome. Deep in self-delusion and denial.

Given her own posh lifestyle, we should perhaps add a little of the Uriah Heep syndrome to get the full rounded portrait of this poor woman?

Bill, Suzhou, China

My dad was a newsagent, I went to state school, I'm Asian, I work in the city and I earn loads of money. I do it so my parents and future children can have something close to the only kind of life Toynbee has ever known. Me explain my position? How about she explains her right to speak for the poor?

Raj Chande, London, United Kingdom

I love Giles Coren.

By the way, en suite rooms really do exist in several Oxford colleges. Easier to flog conference facilities during the vacations, for one thing. Also nice for the students (including former wards of state education).

But fancy having "the use of a kitchen"! Heavens to Polly.

John Allen, Oxford, UK

"No, here were children."

Giles Coren, I love you. Thanks for reminding me why I stopped even picking up somebody else's Guardian.

Amy Allen, London,

Polly Toynbee is Mrs Dutt Pauker from Peter Simple: she is a privately educated middle class woman who lives in a two million pound house on Hampstead with a second home in Italy ... give me a break!

Fred Smith, Scunthorpe, UK