Why does success spark envy in some when it should inspire us all to better things?

WE’VE just had a week in which being the best you can be and pushing yourself to create wealth for you and your family were described as “dirty words”.

Somehow, we have become a nation ashamed and critical of even the concept of personal ambition.

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Public opinion’s changed much since the Eighties, when greed was supposedly good, remember?

I think this is partly because of the banking crisis. The behaviour of a few irresponsible bankers, who risked other people’s money for personal gain, filtered into a disdain for anyone who creates wealth.

They were all put in the same shameful camp as people who can’t be trusted.

But it’s important to remember not everyone who makes money is taking huge risks with other people’s money for their own huge profit.

Hard-working, self-made people who create businesses, employ workers and pay taxes almost always risk their own money.

David Cameron pointed out there are millions in this country who work hard to save money to give to their families. That is what his father, who worked particularly hard, did too. So what?

There has been no evidence either of them did anything illegal and the suggestion they did anything wrong is a disgrace.

I don’t understand why some people find the idea of making money and providing for your kids distasteful.

Isn’t it human nature to look after your family?

The biggest attack came from Jeremy Corbyn, whose own tax return showed he earned £500 for filling in surveys.

What kind of grown man gets paid to fill in surveys? Isn’t that the kind of thing a student does to earn a bit of extra cash?

There is something completely bonkers about inheritance tax. It means people are slaving and saving to pass on fully taxed money to their children, which will be taxed again. Not fair.

Whatever your views on tax, the furore about our politicians’ financial affairs makes me worry we are in danger of creating a culture where people don’t want to enter public life.

It’s hugely important in politics to have people who’ve lived in the real world, not career politicians.

People who have run a business, understand what it means to make money, to employ and to lay people off.

They understand the real pressures of real life.

This country is full of people born into tough circumstances who have risen far above the levels of expectations.+

Lord Sugar, for example, who grew up in a humble house in Hackney and is now one of the world’s top businessmen.

David Gold, my own chairman, is another example. He was born into abject poverty but he was driven to make a difference.

And what a difference he made. He is now co-owner of West Ham.

The harder you work, the more your dreams turn into reality.

The thing is, if you don’t champion your career, no one will do it for you.

Lots of people have great business ideas but no drive or energy to put them into practice. The X factor is ambition, aspiration and determination.

No one started anything without ambition and you don’t finish it without a lot of hard work.

But ambition is that spark, that desire to do well for yourself and family. I have not met a single successful person who has not got determination.

That means backbone and grit. Putting one foot in front of the other to keep going, not walking away. You never know what you are capable of until you take some chances, fight for what you believe in and dedicate your life to being the best you can be.

That means different things to different people. I’m not necessarily talking about becoming Prime Minister or Lord Sugar or Mark Zuckerberg.

It’s about having the belief you can rise above your circumstances and better yourself.

I was very inspired when I met a young man recently who had been part of the West Ham Community Programme.

He grew up in difficult circumstances, mixing with the wrong crowd and was heading nowhere.

Then he worked with us on our Kicks programme and became a member of the winning Premier League Enterprise team. That gave him the hope to aim higher and he is now studying medicine at King’s College London.

What is the difference between him and countless other kids? He decided to make the most of his life and push himself to do things no one thought possible.

By the way, I didn’t have an outstretched hand. I had to make my own way.

Now I am a peer of the realm. I make money, I have a successful business, I pay my tax.

Along the way I have mentored people, got plenty of other women on to boards, helped charities and done a lot with my life.

What I can’t understand is when we hear of people’s success, we feel envious rather than inspired.

Let’s celebrate everyone who is doing something with their life — who has a job, is opening a business, is having a go. And yes, who is making money.

Instead of thinking they are all dodgy or immoral, let’s make them role models for our next generation.

If Lord Sugar can start off selling boiled beetroot and aerials from the back of a van and now has every plane, car and helicopter known to man, then why can’t anyone else?

Model of a happy marriage

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I LOVED those pictures of Hugh Jackman and his wife of 20 years, Deborra-Lee Furness, clearly having such a laugh together.

Isn’t it refreshing to see a couple who look very much their age obviously having such a nice time together?

Shock horror. Two people in Hollywood who actually love each other!

Here is one man who hasn’t done what so many others in his position do, which is to trade his long-term wife in for a sexy younger model.

Proving what we all know – there is more to a happy marriage than being young and hot.

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WINE lovers were given a bit of bad news last week.

A new scientific study has discovered that a glass of wine a day might not keep the doctor away after all.

As I read that the other day (over a glass of wine) I realised that although it might well be true, two glasses a day can seriously reduce the chances of giving a damn.

— I COULDN’T believe it when I heard about the women who ordered lobster and bubbly after spending a fortune to give birth at the Portland Hospital in London – as if they were on holiday!

Sure, I suppose visitors might fancy a glass of champagne but all I really wanted was a cup of tea after giving birth. Er, and a healthy baby, of course.

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— RESEARCH has shown that the happiest people make love three or four times a week. Hopefully, at least one of those times it’s with their husband or wife.

The man to whip Beeb into shape

SO Culture Secretary John Whittingdale (a single man, above the age of consent) had a relationship with a woman he met on Match.com.

Unbeknown to him the woman was a dominatrix. He ended the relationship. End of story. Except, it wasn’t. Well, it was for a while. Four papers knew – including this one – when it happened nearly three years ago.

They decided not to write about it as it was a non-story that was not in the public interest. But the BBC broke the story – on Newsnight on Tuesday. Their suggestion is that his position is compromised, in particular his role in regard to press regulation.

Before taking on his current job he called the TV licence fee “worse than the poll tax”.

Now he is in charge of a review which will sort out the Beeb’s financial future. Some people think the BBC are pursuing their own agenda by revealing this story. If that is the case they should be ashamed of themselves.

And, if it is true, all the more reason why John Whittingdale – who is very good at his job – is just the person to reform the BBC.

No mean feet for busy Kate

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JUST what is people’s obsession with criticising the Duchess of Cambridge?

She has spent the entire tour of India looking her usual stylish, serene self.

But still people can’t resist having a pop.

With nothing else to find fault with, the complaints last week were levelled at her feet, of all things.

The main “issue” being that she hadn’t had a pedicure.

Now I’m no foot expert, but Kate’s feet looked absolutely fine to me!

Apart from anything else, the woman has two children under three.

The last thing on the “to do” list is her toes.

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