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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to want politicians with strong academic and business backgrounds?

312 replies

Catsandjkr · 30/04/2026 12:33

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.

OP posts:
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6
anniegun · 01/05/2026 12:48

Running a business is different from running a country.

Badbadbunny · 01/05/2026 11:28

Vinividivici · 01/05/2026 10:29

I also worry about this.

Many 'businesspeople' are only concerned for themselves. I think that society has forgotten the importance of character and good values. Intelligent and capable leaders can leverage the expertise of businesspeople and do not need direct experience.

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But unless you have direct experience of, say, running a business, you can't possibly understand the realities of doing it. Every man and his dog think they know about business, such as the sheer number who think they can do a better job of running a little cafe, or don't understand why a cleaner charges a "whopping" £20, or why it's so hard to take on staff. But until they actually have to do it, they'll never understand the harsh realities of it. Same with all the other ministerial portfolios. It's not just the ministers themselves, their senior civil servants running the departments will almost certainly have no direct experience in the realities of their portfolios either.

We need a good mix. A government made up entirely of business people is just as bad as one made up of none.

"Business people" is also a wide range. At one end you have basically administrators/managers "running" an established business. At the other end, you have the "entreprenneurs" who have the ideas/vision etc but often don't have the ability to actually administer/manage it. Again, you need the right mix which is where a lot of firms go wrong, especially with the venture capital lot who buy up young growing businesses which then stagnate - look at all the "big names" that have disappeared or on their way out because the venture capitalists took over - Woolworths and loads of other franchised chains of shops/restaurants etc.

TopPocketFind · 01/05/2026 11:12

EasternStandard · 01/05/2026 11:02

Ignore the insults. The question of business experience for politicians is a reasonable one. A mix of experience is likely best, which seems to be missing atm.

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I shall ignore the insults, I am sure cats can do the same

Thanks for the advice Wink

EasternStandard · 01/05/2026 11:02

Catsandjkr · 01/05/2026 10:13

Darling it wasn't hard of course. I was simply wondering if anyone could identify him from my description.

Yes I have a job..

Edited
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Ignore the insults. The question of business experience for politicians is a reasonable one. A mix of experience is likely best, which seems to be missing atm.

ilovesooty · 01/05/2026 10:55

@LawType , it doesn't look as though you're going to get a response.

RRAaaaargh · 01/05/2026 10:31

Catsandjkr · 01/05/2026 10:05

FDR - a good president. But I was talking more recently.

Bill Clinton

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Yes I can see it works for Clinton.

I think what Clinton and my suggestions (Reagan and FDR) had in common was vision and leadership ability- they actually had aims and the ability to communicate why those aims mattered. Starmer doesn't seem seem to have any of this- there's no sense of an agenda that isn't simply reactive to events and no ability (or apparent interest) in taking the population with him.

Sadly the politicians we have who are closest to having these skills are both dishonest populists- Farage and Polanski.

Vinividivici · 01/05/2026 10:29

Catsandjkr · 01/05/2026 10:17

My worry is that Trump will be elected again and after that his sons will try.

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I also worry about this.

Many 'businesspeople' are only concerned for themselves. I think that society has forgotten the importance of character and good values. Intelligent and capable leaders can leverage the expertise of businesspeople and do not need direct experience.

Original poster
Catsandjkr · 01/05/2026 10:17

Vinividivici · 01/05/2026 10:15

Here is a meme that seems to go to your point 🤔

My worry is that Trump will be elected again and after that his sons will try.

OP posts:
Original poster
Catsandjkr · 01/05/2026 10:15

daisychain01 · 01/05/2026 10:14

Politicians and MPs need a broad range of skills, a mix of academic, practical experience such as running a business or working for an organisation (to be able to appreciate the RW challenges businesses face and the realities of capitalism, shareholder value, employment issues), plus a healthy dose of emotional and social intelligence.

they also need to be versatile, able to move around Government departments (when their party is in power) and at pace if there's a sudden reshuffle. One day transport, next day health and social care. They don't always get a choice or cherry-pick their preferred role, they have to take what they're given.

Thise who have these proven skills can earn big money in industry with share options, fringe benefits and significant salary, so why would they be attracted to being in the firing-line in today's brutal political scene, where the public are never happy with the decisions they make (you can't please all the people, all of the time).

it makes me think being in politics must be a vocation, a calling, because they won't be doing it for the money !

All very true

OP posts:
Vinividivici · 01/05/2026 10:15

Here is a meme that seems to go to your point 🤔

AIBU to want politicians with strong academic and business backgrounds?
TopPocketFind · 01/05/2026 10:14

Catsandjkr · 01/05/2026 10:13

Darling it wasn't hard of course. I was simply wondering if anyone could identify him from my description.

Yes I have a job..

Edited
Show quote history

Oh sweetie, did you really have to NC for this drivel?

daisychain01 · 01/05/2026 10:14

Politicians and MPs need a broad range of skills, a mix of academic, practical experience such as running a business or working for an organisation (to be able to appreciate the RW challenges businesses face and the realities of capitalism, shareholder value, employment issues), plus a healthy dose of emotional and social intelligence.

they also need to be versatile, able to move around Government departments (when their party is in power) and at pace if there's a sudden reshuffle. One day transport, next day health and social care. They don't always get a choice or cherry-pick their preferred role, they have to take what they're given.

Thise who have these proven skills can earn big money in industry with share options, fringe benefits and significant salary, so why would they be attracted to being in the firing-line in today's brutal political scene, where the public are never happy with the decisions they make (you can't please all the people, all of the time).

it makes me think being in politics must be a vocation, a calling, because they won't be doing it for the money !

Original poster
Catsandjkr · 01/05/2026 10:13

TopPocketFind · 01/05/2026 10:10

Labour luvvies Hmm

You NC'd, do you have a job?

And why was it so hard to type Bill Clinton in the first place?

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Darling it wasn't hard of course. I was simply wondering if anyone could identify him from my description.

Yes I have a job..

OP posts:
Original poster
Catsandjkr · 01/05/2026 10:12

EasternStandard · 01/05/2026 10:09

Calling posters arseholes probably won’t help you get answers.

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😂Wildgarden probably wonders why she's got few friends. Now we know

OP posts:
TopPocketFind · 01/05/2026 10:10

Catsandjkr · 01/05/2026 10:08

😂I would hate to be in your head. I think you think too much about Farage and Reform and Trump. It's incredible really. I can't stand any of them but they don't infect my thoughts as they seem to yours. Same for most Labour luvvies on MN I suppose. Not many of them these days, though they are prolific and don't seem to have jobs, they post so much. Under NCs too I should think.

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Labour luvvies Hmm

You NC'd, do you have a job?

And why was it so hard to type Bill Clinton in the first place?

Original poster
Catsandjkr · 01/05/2026 10:09

WildGarden · 01/05/2026 10:06

Thank you.

You example proves that a good education doesn't make a good person and also that business experience isn't necessary for success.

It wasn't that hard now, was it.

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If you say so!

OP posts:
EasternStandard · 01/05/2026 10:09

WildGarden · 01/05/2026 10:05

I'm not here to be charming. I'm here to ask a question.

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Calling posters arseholes probably won’t help you get answers.

Original poster
Catsandjkr · 01/05/2026 10:08

TopPocketFind · 01/05/2026 09:54

Distraction from Farage's £5m donation and Tice's taxes?

And their support forTrump?

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😂I would hate to be in your head. I think you think too much about Farage and Reform and Trump. It's incredible really. I can't stand any of them but they don't infect my thoughts as they seem to yours. Same for most Labour luvvies on MN I suppose. Not many of them these days, though they are prolific and don't seem to have jobs, they post so much. Under NCs too I should think.

OP posts:
WildGarden · 01/05/2026 10:06

Catsandjkr · 01/05/2026 10:05

FDR - a good president. But I was talking more recently.

Bill Clinton

Show quote history

Thank you.

You example proves that a good education doesn't make a good person and also that business experience isn't necessary for success.

It wasn't that hard now, was it.

WildGarden · 01/05/2026 10:05

EasternStandard · 01/05/2026 10:04

And this.

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I'm not here to be charming. I'm here to ask a question.

Original poster
Catsandjkr · 01/05/2026 10:05

RRAaaaargh · 01/05/2026 09:54

FDR? (I do not think OP is talking about FDR.)

FDR - a good president. But I was talking more recently.

Bill Clinton

OP posts:
EasternStandard · 01/05/2026 10:04

Catsandjkr · 01/05/2026 10:02

You're a charmer aren't you?

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And this.

WildGarden · 01/05/2026 10:04

EasternStandard · 01/05/2026 10:03

Mn isn’t just Labour anymore, not surprising giving the current level of public support for them.

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I'm not assuming it's all Labour.
I'm wondering why the OP won't answer a simple question and is being so evasive.

WildGarden · 01/05/2026 10:03

Catsandjkr · 01/05/2026 10:02

You're a charmer aren't you?

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Who is the politician you're talking about?

EasternStandard · 01/05/2026 10:03

WildGarden · 01/05/2026 09:51

Where are all these goady threads by utter arseholes coming from?

Mn isn’t just Labour anymore, not surprising giving the current level of public support for them.

Swipe left for the next trending thread