Party Leaders

[lindapalmara]

Much in the news at the moment is the competence of the party leaders and their connection (or not) with ordinary voters. It has been suggested (and I agree) that if David Davis (brought up on Council Estate in Tooting, sent to Grammar school and Unii, had a proper job till he entered politics at aged 38) had won the Tory leadership, and Alan Johnson (orphaned and brought up by his sister in council flat, became a postman then headed the union) had put his name forward in 2010, politics would be in a totally different place now?

[wolf63]

Remember that the words 'different' and 'better' are totally different in meaning.

Maybe we would now be in a worse state had either of these gents had won the Tory leadership battle. Perhaps there would have been improvements in some areas to the detriment of other areas - rob the NHS to pay for better Policing (etc) ! ?

[whiskeryron]

I would suggest that ALL persons with political leanings should first have what we call a proper job for a number of years before seeking to become a member of parliament. The majority I believe go from public school/university straight into a political career which of course gives them NO chance of knowing what kind of life or conditions the ordinary man/woman has to endure due to party doctrine in our governing leadership.

[-Talbot-]

Alan Johnson would not want to be leader of the Cons, Wolfy.

[whiskeryron]

Why do I find the term Cons a more adequate description than Tories ?

[EDDIE51]

Totally agree with Ron. It should be compulsory to work in a 'proper job' for at least 10 years before you can stand as an MP. Same with teachers , most of them go straight from school to training collage or university then back to school. No experience of the 'real world' at all. At my old school we had 2 teachers who were pupils and after collage came back as teachers at the same school. They were good people but absolutely no experience of the outside world.

[EDDIE51]

By the way, anyone know how many of the current crop of MPs have ever had a real job?

[lindapalmara]

Not many these days Eddie. It used to be Labour who were more grounded but not these days. They're all alike.

[Zacs-Master]

What about MPs who have second jobs? I believe some in the Labour Party mooted banning this a while ago. Surely being an MP is a full time job?

[Gromit]

The fact that the current Party leaders, Cameron, Clegg, Miliband and Farage are all from well off families and had a private education is not a problem in its self.

The problem with the Government is that Cameron has promoted his Eton school friends into important jobs, so that the Cabinet itself has a very narrow experience and has no idea how the rest of the country lives.

Margaret Thatcher and John Major both had grammar school educations and proper jobs before embarking on a political career. The present crop of career politicians have a wealth of inexperience which often shows in their crass behaviour.