The former scenario is far more likely to be the truth, at least for the upper echelons of the party.

In those days the company provided it for only the upper echelons.

They see the upper echelons of the police "in bed" with the media.

Almost all the employees in the department's upper echelons are white.

Sorry, that's how it works in at the upper echelon of American business.

But the Yankees provide an example in the upper echelons.

Fair play, he and his mother did a great job getting him to the upper echelons of the game.

Yet there remains something of a pay gap in music's upper echelon.

Even the upper echelons of the police have been found wanting.

Yet the upper echelon of British business and industry remains a man's world.