AIBU to want politicians with strong academic and business backgrounds?

Catsandjkr · 2026-04-30T11:33:07+00:00

AIBU to want politicans to be highly academically successful And have experience in running a business? I'm so tired of these low grade politicians ruining our lives. They can lie (as Starmer exempifies), they don't need qualifications or experience to get the job. In inexplicable in other areas of life. What a joke. But I suppose when its politicans like Lammy, Starmer, Reeves in charge, it won't ever change.

CopeNorth · 02/05/2026 22:43

You’re not being unreasonable to want that. And you can vote how you like to bring that about. But the point is, it’s a democracy and so can everyone else.

Original poster

Catsandjkr · 02/05/2026 22:42

pointythings · 02/05/2026 22:22

I mean, you can have a sky high IQ and still be completely incapable of being pragmatic and sensible.

But when your only criterion for pragmatic and sensible is 'has run a commercial business' we are in bullshit territory.

I do doubt that Lammy has a 'sky high IQ'. Who said that their 'only criterion for pragmatic and sensible is ' 'has run a commercial business' '?

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PlumPuddingandGravy · 02/05/2026 22:36

The brightest person I ever worked with - straight A* everything, Oxford - simply could not do the job. Hyper intelligent but limited people skills, not commercial, not pragmatic, no common sense.

Lovely bloke and he’s found himself the right role now.

pointythings · 02/05/2026 22:22

I mean, you can have a sky high IQ and still be completely incapable of being pragmatic and sensible.

But when your only criterion for pragmatic and sensible is 'has run a commercial business' we are in bullshit territory.

MNLurker1345 · 02/05/2026 22:13

Lammy is educated, that doesn’t stop him from being a fool. Two side's of the argument can exist at the same time.

Original poster

Catsandjkr · 02/05/2026 22:11

Abra1t · 02/05/2026 21:59

But has abysmal general knowledge and little wisdom.

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Are you suggesting Marie Antoinette didn't win the Nobel prize for Physics?

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Original poster

Catsandjkr · 02/05/2026 22:03

Abra1t · 02/05/2026 21:59

But has abysmal general knowledge and little wisdom.

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Who said Lammy was uneducated? @toooldforbrat

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Pearlstillsinging · 02/05/2026 22:00

HoskinsChoice · 30/04/2026 12:49

Intelligence is needed for government and being a qualified lawyer does prove that. But, Lawyers rarely make good leaders. Academics are the same, as are Doctors. It's hard to know why and there are of course exceptions that prove the rule but if you look at the big corporations where managing scale is key (money and people) you will find there are very, very few people with that background at the head of them.

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Well of course, academics, successful lawyers and doctors don't want to lead big corporations on the whole. Why would you think they might?

Pedallleur · 02/05/2026 21:59

Politicians are rarely drawn from academia or business. It's often PPE at University or Law then working their way through the political system. Academics and business people are building careers in their areas so don't get into politics until later.

Abra1t · 02/05/2026 21:59

toooldforbrat · 30/04/2026 12:49

Lammy - master degree in law from Harvard and a Barrister - hardly uneducated.

Farage didn't go to University can we rule him out ?

But has abysmal general knowledge and little wisdom.

TopPocketFind · 02/05/2026 21:58

Appreciate the love you are sharing.

TopPocketFind · 02/05/2026 21:55

I am just joining your little game

Original poster

Catsandjkr · 02/05/2026 21:50

TopPocketFind · 02/05/2026 21:44

Coming up with at leat one proper example would have been the start of a story

Alas

Fascinating that you refuse to see the elephant in the room. Still no surprise there..

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TopPocketFind · 02/05/2026 21:44

Coming up with at leat one proper example would have been the start of a story

Alas

Original poster

Catsandjkr · 02/05/2026 21:41

TopPocketFind · 02/05/2026 21:40

There is no story, just hot air

😂And there we have it.

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TopPocketFind · 02/05/2026 21:40

There is no story, just hot air

Original poster

Catsandjkr · 02/05/2026 21:39

Pedallleur · 02/05/2026 20:16

Trumps a businessman. The greatest deal maker ever apparently. Doesn't seem that great at the moment. Richard Tice another one and the guy who bunged Farage 5 million for home security. Are those the people we want?

Some people are obsessed with Trump and Farage / Reform, it's most peculiar. I never talk about them, they hold no interest for me - but the left, particularly go on and on about them.

I'd never call Trump a person who knows much about business, he doesn't come across as academic... allegedly he bought a degree but I couldn't comment on that.. Reform people I don't know about them at at all tbh, business wise. Academia wise the same. But I do know that they are pretty dangerous if they were to get into power - so I do wish the labour party would stop gifting them supporters.

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Original poster

Catsandjkr · 02/05/2026 21:34

TopPocketFind · 02/05/2026 19:41

We still haven't been given example except for Bill Clinton who doesn't meet OP's requirements

You're correct. And that might tell a story. Make the story what you like.

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Pedallleur · 02/05/2026 20:16

Trumps a businessman. The greatest deal maker ever apparently. Doesn't seem that great at the moment. Richard Tice another one and the guy who bunged Farage 5 million for home security. Are those the people we want?

TopPocketFind · 02/05/2026 19:41

We still haven't been given example except for Bill Clinton who doesn't meet OP's requirements

MeetMeOnTheCorner · 02/05/2026 19:25

Starmer was DPP. A civil servant! Before that was joint head of chambers but that’s not the same as starting a business from scratch and barristers are self employed.

BIossomtoes · 02/05/2026 16:26

Badbadbunny · 02/05/2026 11:25

But it's still not entreprenneurial. It's business management, just like Starmer running a legal firm or a typical GP running a practice. There's a massive difference between actually being imaginative and sniffing out new opportunities, creating new products/services, seeking out new markets, etc etc compared with administering/managing an established organisation.

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It can be highly entrepreneurial. Many charities are contracted to provide services. That means horizon scanning, tender writing, contract negotiation. New business opportunities are the lifeblood of some charities.

pinkstinks · 02/05/2026 14:59

Badbadbunny · 02/05/2026 11:25

But it's still not entreprenneurial. It's business management, just like Starmer running a legal firm or a typical GP running a practice. There's a massive difference between actually being imaginative and sniffing out new opportunities, creating new products/services, seeking out new markets, etc etc compared with administering/managing an established organisation.

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Haha I can tell you we do all of the things as a small charity desperately trying to survive - definitely more so than a big national that has teams to do all of those things

HughManity · 02/05/2026 11:37

What is your academic and business background, @Catsandjkr ?

MoFadaCromulent · 02/05/2026 11:27

poetryandwine · 02/05/2026 10:46

Any confusion is understandable. You’re pro business and both in favour of and against Oxford, in different posts.

Yet the only politician you mention by name is Bill Clinton. Zero business experience. Oxford, and before that the Foreign Service College at Georgetown and Yale Law. Difficult to devise a more strictly government/political background than that.

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Bingo