Cambridge OCR has dropped George Orwell’s debut novel *Down and Out in Paris and London* from its GCSE syllabus, citing inclusivity and diversity. Sisa San Sebastián Hurtig argues that this political‑correctness actually backfires, denying students a(full) lens for grasping how class insecurity propels the rise of the political right. The move follows Wales’ removal of *Of Mice and Men* and *To Kill a Mockingbird* amid racism concerns, and the replacement of Orwell’s work with Eileen O'Shaughnessy’s biography and Anna Funder’s critique of his alleged misogyny. Critics call this the “oppression Olympics,” where an author’s personal history outweighs literary value.

In Manchester a school library used AI to flag “inappropriate” titles, wiping out Orwell’s *1984* among 200 books. These actions reflect a broader shift in education toward identity politics and intersectionality, sidelining materialist explanations of power. Orwell, who served in the Indian Imperial Police, exposed how imperialism managed class tensions at home, a dynamic he traces in *Burmese Days* and *The Road to Wigan Pier*. His analysis shows that when the working class can no longer seek status abroad, it turns to the political right, mirroring colonial exclusion tactics.

Removing Orwell erases a diagnostic tool essential for understanding class‑driven politics. Instead, educators should engage critically with his work, balancing context with contemporary relevance.