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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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Original poster
Catsandjkr · 01/05/2026 10:02

WildGarden · 01/05/2026 09:51

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

You're a charmer aren't you?

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

WildGarden · 01/05/2026 09:59

If you vote Reform you vote for bloodsports.

Who is voting reform on this thread?

OP posts:
Original poster
Catsandjkr · 01/05/2026 10:00

thepariscrimefiles · 01/05/2026 09:52

Talking of liars, what did you think of Boris Johnson?

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Also a liar

OP posts:
WildGarden · 01/05/2026 09:59

If you vote Reform you vote for bloodsports.

AIBU to want politicians with strong academic and business backgrounds?
WildGarden · 01/05/2026 09:57

Or post this.

AIBU to want politicians with strong academic and business backgrounds?
Newyearawaits · 01/05/2026 09:56

Catsandjkr · 30/04/2026 12:38

He did not have a good reputation as a lawyer / barrister. More a case of Peters Principle.

And academically despite going to grammar / private school, he still didn't do brilliantly in his exams/ Hence rejected by Oxford and had to settle with a masters there.

Edited
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Wow, you are wildly judgmental and prejudiced.
Ime, there are some people who are drowning in academic qualifications that have little common sense and insight into the real challenges that affect many.
Of course there are people who can have both but your tunnel vision is worrying.

TopPocketFind · 01/05/2026 09:54

WildGarden · 01/05/2026 09:51

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

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

And their support forTrump?

RRAaaaargh · 01/05/2026 09:54

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

thepariscrimefiles · 01/05/2026 09:52

Catsandjkr · 30/04/2026 12:52

I used him as an example of a liar.

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Talking of liars, what did you think of Boris Johnson?

WildGarden · 01/05/2026 09:51

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

WildGarden · 01/05/2026 09:46

I do not know who you are talking about and that is why I'm asking.

TopPocketFind · 01/05/2026 09:46

Is it some fictional character?

It can be that hard to type his actual name

Original poster
Catsandjkr · 01/05/2026 09:43

Catsandjkr · 01/05/2026 09:20

No I cannot - and perhaps that is part of the problem.

A politician I admire the most, who was very effective didn't have the business side but he did have people working with him who seemed to understand economics rather well. So he was in a good place, and did great things. He had other issues of course, but none that affected his job.

I wonder if you know who I am talking about? Clue he's not a UK politician. I can't think of any in the UK tbh,

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Actually - when I say he had other issues but none that affected his job, I meant none that Should have effected his job. In the end - they were the thing that ended his job.

I'm being annoying for my own facile entertainment, but surely now you know who I'm talking about.

OP posts:
WildGarden · 01/05/2026 09:35

Catsandjkr · 01/05/2026 09:31

Wasn't supposed to be 'amusing'. How peculiar!

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Who are you talking about?

RRAaaaargh · 01/05/2026 09:32

Catsandjkr · 01/05/2026 09:20

No I cannot - and perhaps that is part of the problem.

A politician I admire the most, who was very effective didn't have the business side but he did have people working with him who seemed to understand economics rather well. So he was in a good place, and did great things. He had other issues of course, but none that affected his job.

I wonder if you know who I am talking about? Clue he's not a UK politician. I can't think of any in the UK tbh,

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Quite a few fit this description- my first thought was of Reagan.

Original poster
Catsandjkr · 01/05/2026 09:31

poetryandwine · 01/05/2026 09:22

Not amusing, OP.

Happily I can think of half a dozen or more worldwide who fit this description

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Wasn't supposed to be 'amusing'. How peculiar!

OP posts:
Namingbaba · 01/05/2026 09:30

I think variety is important and from different socioeconomic backgrounds.

In Nordic countries you get more people who’ve had regular jobs like nurses etc
I don’t think highly educated always mean highly intelligent or competent. You have people in regular jobs who would be competent in politics. They just never went for the fancy degrees because no one pushed them in that direction or it wasn’t an interest of theirs.

BIossomtoes · 01/05/2026 09:28

xino · 01/05/2026 09:25

I don’t care about academic qualifications; I do want MPs to be intelligent. But for me the most important attribute is emotional intelligence. You rarely see that in an MP, one exception being the late, great Mo Mowlam. Politics just doesn’t seem to attract wise people, and I’m not surprised. We do need to pay them more if we want better quality though I think.

You can’t buy wisdom. I don’t want politicians attracted by the salary. Around £100k and very generous expenses should be enough.

TopPocketFind · 01/05/2026 09:27

Catsandjkr · 01/05/2026 09:20

No I cannot - and perhaps that is part of the problem.

A politician I admire the most, who was very effective didn't have the business side but he did have people working with him who seemed to understand economics rather well. So he was in a good place, and did great things. He had other issues of course, but none that affected his job.

I wonder if you know who I am talking about? Clue he's not a UK politician. I can't think of any in the UK tbh,

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Putin?

Why not just say who you are referring to?

WildGarden · 01/05/2026 09:27

Catsandjkr · 01/05/2026 09:20

No I cannot - and perhaps that is part of the problem.

A politician I admire the most, who was very effective didn't have the business side but he did have people working with him who seemed to understand economics rather well. So he was in a good place, and did great things. He had other issues of course, but none that affected his job.

I wonder if you know who I am talking about? Clue he's not a UK politician. I can't think of any in the UK tbh,

Show quote history

Can someone tell me who he's talking about?

thinktoomuchtoooften · 01/05/2026 09:27

It’s always baffled me how a re shuffle can take you from Health Secretary to Foreign Office like you’re an expert in everything. I’d rather some specific experience and expertise in the dept they’re supposed to lead.

xino · 01/05/2026 09:25

I don’t care about academic qualifications; I do want MPs to be intelligent. But for me the most important attribute is emotional intelligence. You rarely see that in an MP, one exception being the late, great Mo Mowlam. Politics just doesn’t seem to attract wise people, and I’m not surprised. We do need to pay them more if we want better quality though I think.

CoffeeCantata · 01/05/2026 09:24

CurlewKate · 30/04/2026 17:27

Pay MPs more and stop them having side hussles.

I don't care about 'side hustles'. I only care that they want to serve the population and are not extremists or ideologues either on the right or left. I want people who have a realistic understanding of most people's lives and who will be prepared to give ground and compromise where necessary to get things done.

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