Polly Toynbee is a British journalist and writer, who is best known as being a columnist for The Guardian for many years, since 1998, and has also worked for the BBC and for the Independent newspaper as a social affairs editor. Toynbee is also well known as being a social democrat candidate for the Social Democratic Party in the 1983 election. In 2007, Toynbee was publically recognised when she was named Columnist of the Year at the British Press Awards.

Toynbee’s career began by working for The Guardian for several years, before joining the BBC as social affairs editor in 1988. Upon leaving the BBC some years later, Toynbee joined The Independent and worked for the newspaper as a columnist and associate editor, alongside Andrew Marr. Other leading organisations that Toynbee has leant her writing talents to include The Observer and Radio Times, Toynbee also edited the Washington Monthly USA for a brief period.

Toynbee is passionate about social issues, writing a book titled Hard Work: Life in Low-pay Britain, which primarily addressed the then £4.10 minimum wage for workers. In 1983, Toynbee stood for the Social Democratic Party, finishing third with 9351 votes. Toynbee is President of the Social Policy Association, is chair of the Brighton Festival and deputy treasurer of the Fabian Society.