AIBU to want politicians with strong academic and business backgrounds?

You also said he didn't get into Oxford like that was somehow significant. Stop changing your story.

All the people you list are academically successful, OP. They're a better example of how being academically able doesn't necessarily make you politically able.

I do agree that it would be good to have more people with business experience in parliament and in the civil service- career politicians and career civil servants come sometimes lack the experience to know how policy will work in the real world. That's not the same as saying that everyone should have a business background, and there are big differences between running the country and running a business. When we have in the past brought in business leaders to advise government they've generally been completely useless (Lord Sugar and Lord Jones spring to mind).

A good example of someone who combines academic, real world and government experience is Steve Webb- a real expert in pensions, genuinely cares about how they work in the real world, has been a professor of social policy, a minister and now works in the private sector but remains active in public life.

Eton and Oxbridge is a stereotype that would be good to move on from.

I would prefer knowledgeable people. Eg Education Minister who worked in education, Health minister who worked in health.

I think this is spot on, so many MPs now from the main parties have got to where they are via uni then political networking often via a parliamentary researcher or lobbying job that puts them in prime position to get on Party candidates lists and ultimately to being adopted as the candidate in a constituency where there's a good chance they'll get elected.
Older candidates who have lived experience of the issues that affect us all plus have had "real" jobs out in the big wide world either don't apply or don't get selected. I think that's a big reason we find ourselves where we are now, this has been going on for 35 years that I know of.

There’s another vote in a week and Labour can find out how well liked they are.

On your op, understanding of behaviour and economics would help. What happens if you tax businesses / jobs for example.

He went to Leeds. Perfectly decent. Do you think anyone who doesn't go to Oxbridge must be stupid?

We need fewer politicians who went to Oxford, not more of them. RG undergrad and Oxbridge masters is a decent academic backround.

I read Boris Johnston spent over 2 k on gold wallpaper with Tax payers money also partied like a teenager whilst telling people to stay at home..so there is that .

The founders of boohoo.com ran a successful business but didn't notice the UK sweat shops in their supply chain. Jeff Bezos runs an incredibly successful business with exploitative employment practices. What about all the very successful businesses who put a large amount of effort into avoiding tax?

Honesty, integrity, the ability to stay calm and take balanced perspectives to make the best decision for the country not themselves, the ability to diffuse disagreement and build consensus, the ability to understand nuance. Those are the qualities I want in a politician. I don't know where we find them but I'm pretty sure it's not big business or academia.

Thorn in the Side Ltd - you can google it, there's an article in the FT from 26 February last year.

Running a business will not be like running the country.

I want politicians with vision. With decent principles. Who believe in doing what is best for Britain. Who have good ideas and values. That support everyone. That build hope. Who communicates well internationally and domestically. That would govern for all. People with judgement.

I do not want someone whose experience is say running a hedge fund. They will not know at all how to manage Government. How to run a Department even at Ministerial level. It would be chaos.

Nigel Farage used to run a business which made £1.25m in profit last year. Doesn't make a good politician. In the same year he went to the US eight times and didn't hold a single surgery in Clacton. At this point I am not entirely convinced he even knows where Clacton is...

We're in "this current mess" because of 14 years of Tory ineptitude - it didn't just pop up when Labour took over.

I just read about David Lammy being the first black Briton graduating Harvard, I didn't know that much about him tbh.

Business people would at least have an idea how new legislation affects employees and owners

Lammy was a barrister/attorney for 6 years - would you elaborate on your statement that he was "useless"?

I think we should have fewer who have only been in politics - I think it’s a degree in economics from Oxford then a low level political advisor then onwards and upwards - just good at being crafty and manipulating.

Plus a few engineers wouldn’t go amiss - HS2, OTT environmental legislation, ‘ooooo let’s make everyone buy electric cars’ ( even if we don’t have the power)🙄

Lammy is a Harvard-trained lawyer. Starmer is a lawyer. I don't think an academic background is important.

Being an MP used attract people from.all backgrounds who wanted to make a difference. Nowvit is a career, where you play the game and say/ do what you have to in order to advance in your career path.

Can you name a potential senior politician who could avoid credible allegations of lying?

I refer to Farage as the Title of your thread, the one you started says you want 'politicians' .

Farage is a politician!