Politics, cabinet roles, no expertise?

[wellhi]

Apologies if this is a bit garbled, I'm not particularly into politics but this has been bugging me for a while...

I used to think that each cabinet role was held by somebody with expertise in that area. For example foreign secretary would be somebody with diplomat experience, maybe speaks numerous languages etc. Secretary of State for education would have an interest/qualification in education. Defence secretary would have a military background etc.

Possibly most concerning is that there is no requirement for chancellor of the exchequer to have an economics degree.

It is literally just a group of people who shuffle around into whatever role they are put, often with no specific interest, qualification or experience.

Liz Truss being a prime example of this.

What the hell??

Well given that people with your level of knowledge are allowed to vote and select these people it almost seems fair enough.

Kwartang had a PhD in economic history & look where that got us...

While that is true, remember that there's an army of civil servants behind each cabinet minister many of whom are experts in their field.

Yes, I know. I guess I just naively always assumed it was a case of "I've got a real interest in foreign affairs; foreign secretary would be a good fit for me" rather than just launching themselves into anything.

I know a lot of people in high positions often have a rather loose grasp on the intricacies of the business they are managing...that's not their skill set and they rely on the staff below them to guide them where necessary. I just expected a deeper level of understanding from the government and the right people being in the right roles.

Yes, fair point.

I used to think that each cabinet role was held by somebody with expertise in that area.
Do explain how you get expertise in 'being Prime Minister'. Maybe, just maybe, you gain expertise in running several different Government positions first.

YABU. Ministerial positions are just "figureheads" and seldom have any knowledge in their departmental affairs. It's nothing new - been the same for decades. Occasionally, you'll get someone with relevant experience/qualifications, but it's very rare.

At the end of the day, the last thing you want is to have only one qualified accountant as an MP so s/he defaults to get the Chancellor's job! Or one qualified lawyer who automatically gets the Attorney General's job!

The real work is done by the civil servants, the "Sir Humphrey's" who don't tend to move departments and who do have experience, probably only experience within the same department, as most seem to stay for their entire working life, working up through the civil service ranks. That's why things tend not to change when the political party in control changes - the "real" work is done by the civil servants who don't change at every general election!

Take the annual Budget. The civil servants give the Chancellor a list of options based on a generic instruction from the Chancellor as to the main objectives he wants to announce, and the Chancellor of the day chooses the specific options that he thinks will be palatable to the electorate and achieve some/most of his goals. A chancellor certainly doesn't think of the changes himself.

If you want to inform yourself more on Politics I’d recommend subscribing to the “The Rest is Politics” podcast with Alistair Campbell and Rory Stewart.

It comes out twice a week (Weds & Thurs) with an additional interview with a 3rd party released on Mondays under the separate podcast of “Leading”.

It will help you learn more about what is going on in daily political life across the U.K. and rest of the world but with more balance than a lot of media outlets.

Grayling really is an anorak about forms of transport.

Johnny Mercer is example of an MP who has exactly one big interest and only wants one job in govt, so much so that he has turned down other opportunities.

Some of the health care workers have stuck pretty close to related roles/committees.

A few of them really do try to stick to their expertise field.

Ben Wallace is the only capable current cabinet minister, and has a military background. Though the Culture Secretary Michelle Donellan was a WWE marketing manager at one point.

It used to be the minister was where the buck stopped. Experience or not, as allegedly elected representatives, they are ultimately responsible for their brief.

We lost that years ago. And with that any respect for the role.

Well, that's my view. But obviously it's at odds with the real world. Which is why Liz Truss is getting a golden pension and the chance to nominate 4 of her mates for gongs while you and I wonder where all the fucking money went.

Thank you, I'm going to look for this.

@SirSamVimesCityWatch

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-rest-is-politics/id1611374685