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Original poster

If only someone like Gareth Southgate was our Prime Minister...

113 replies

flashbac · 08/07/2021 10:51

Imagine.

OP posts:
Pottedpalm · 09/07/2021 08:55

@hayley037
It would hardly be ‘ jumping on the bandwagon’ to have a reception for the team if they win, it would be the norm, and expected.
If the team win and there was no acknowledgement from Downing Street there would be outrage, surely?

Backhills · 09/07/2021 08:57

@Bryonyshcmyony

Can I just pop in to say I'm amazed that people are serious about this.
I don't think people are serious about GS being PM but about someone "like" him being PM, which is what the thread title says, in fact.

But far less of a leap than an actor being President.

Bryonyshcmyony · 09/07/2021 09:01

But far less of a leap than an actor being President

True.

But lovely as GS is, and despite the amazing job he's done, football managers actually don't have to work with huge teams of other adults all with their own agendas and opinions. He will have to report to the board but ultimately he's in charge. So not sure the skills are the same.

MorrisZapp · 09/07/2021 09:01

Nah. It's a waste of a decent guy to put him in the most impossible, thankless role in the country.

Look at Keir Starmer. He's basically Mr Darcy but in actual office, the public think he's ineffectual and Captain Hindsight.

Even Barack Obama couldn't actually please everyone all the time.

So it's best our leaders are easy to dislike, as it's baked in to the role. Anyone who "stayed up for Portillo" knows this.

Sanguinesuzy · 09/07/2021 09:02

@Bryonyshcmyony and you are happy that a failed journalist notorious for telling lies is our PM ? Weird....

Bryonyshcmyony · 09/07/2021 09:02

Anyone who "stayed up for Portillo" knows this
🤣🤣

Agree

Bryonyshcmyony · 09/07/2021 09:02

[quote Sanguinesuzy]@Bryonyshcmyony and you are happy that a failed journalist notorious for telling lies is our PM ? Weird....[/quote]
What an extraordinary leap to make...

MrPickles73 · 09/07/2021 09:03

This first goal was an own goal and the second was dubious... Get real.

Bryonyshcmyony · 09/07/2021 09:05

@MrPickles73

This first goal was an own goal and the second was dubious... Get real.
It's coming home!
Backhills · 09/07/2021 09:20

But lovely as GS is, and despite the amazing job he's done, football managers actually don't have to work with huge teams of other adults all with their own agendas and opinions. He will have to report to the board but ultimately he's in charge. So not sure the skills are the same.

I think the Engalnd manager does, actually. And he is absolutely, completely responsible. There are no ministers to sack, it's all down to him.

I can't imagine for a minute he'd want the job, but if he did, I think he'd be successful at election and what he is superb at is building a team of the right people around him. He goes out of his way to work with people who disagree with him. No PM actually runs the country single handedly.

awaynboilyurheid · 09/07/2021 09:20

Not an England football fan but even I like Gareth , I think he might have had words with Harry Kane and his cheating it doesn’t look like something a captain should do, pretend to be injured so many times in tackles, can’t imagine Gareth would condone that poor sporting behaviour. If he was pm ( I’m not taking it seriously ) the other politicians would know bad behaviour would receive a disappointed look and removal from the cabinet ASAP and not dither about like the idiot we currently have.

MorrisZapp · 09/07/2021 09:54

I guarantee that the same people who think Jeremy Clarkson/Gareth Southgate/Piers Morgan/Marcus Rashford etc etc should be PM are the exact same people who think that wanting power should disqualify anyone from actually being given it.

The only PM we will ever have is someone who really, really wants the role.

And in the unlikely event that your favourite voice of reason were to stand as leader, they'd have to declare in detail their position on Brexit, Scottish Independence, how to preserve lives without devastating livelihoods in an unprecedented global pandemic, and what a woman is.

The chances of any one person hitting all those popular jackpots at once is about as high as Michael Gove going on Love Island.

People don't vote for nice and reliable. They vote for who best represents their political beliefs.

LizzieW1969 · 09/07/2021 09:58

So it's best our leaders are easy to dislike, as it's baked in to the role. Anyone who "stayed up for Portillo" knows this.*

And most politicians don’t mind this, they like the fact that they’ve gained enough recognition to he disliked. That’s why they all wanted to be on Spitting Image back in the day.

But yes, I well remember the cheer that went up in our TV room when the results came in and Portillo had been voted out. (I was a student then.)

Blossomtoes · 09/07/2021 10:50

People don't vote for nice and reliable

Obviously or we wouldn’t have our current PM.

They vote for who best represents their political beliefs

Dubious. It’s astonishing how many people voted Tory because “Boris is a right laugh”. I bet half of them had no idea what they were voting for beyond Brexit.

Sanguinesuzy · 09/07/2021 10:57

@Blossomtoes and also because they know the tories come down hard on 'benefit scroungers,' hate any kind of PC or 'wokeness' and want to reduce immigration.

Bryonyshcmyony · 09/07/2021 11:04

@MorrisZapp

I guarantee that the same people who think Jeremy Clarkson/Gareth Southgate/Piers Morgan/Marcus Rashford etc etc should be PM are the exact same people who think that wanting power should disqualify anyone from actually being given it.

The only PM we will ever have is someone who really, really wants the role.

And in the unlikely event that your favourite voice of reason were to stand as leader, they'd have to declare in detail their position on Brexit, Scottish Independence, how to preserve lives without devastating livelihoods in an unprecedented global pandemic, and what a woman is.

The chances of any one person hitting all those popular jackpots at once is about as high as Michael Gove going on Love Island.

People don't vote for nice and reliable. They vote for who best represents their political beliefs.

Absolutely. Thanks for putting it so eloquently!
C130 · 09/07/2021 11:13

[quote colouringindoors]Marcus Rashford is awesome.

This is also really interesting

www.theplayerstribune.com/articles/raheem-sterling-england-it-was-all-a-dream[/quote]
Thank you for posting that colouringindoors. The media were not telling the public the whole truth, as per usual.

claralara42 · 09/07/2021 11:14

Footballers aren't generally known for epic intelligence.

Ponoka7 · 09/07/2021 11:15

From what Gareth Southgate has said in the past, he seems slightly socialist.He took a 30% pay cut last year and urged others in his field and other high earners, to do so. He seems committed to inspiring young people, he doesn't just pay lip service to his roles in the Prince's trust, his book is very well written and 'real'.

I think this year we've got a team to be proud of.

Ponoka7 · 09/07/2021 11:23

@claralara42

"Footballers aren't generally known for epic intelligence."
I wouldn't say that many politicians appear that intelligent. Passing exams doesn't seem to indicate how intelligent people are.

Footballers don't have to pretend to be the top intelligent people in the country, they make millions from using their feet.

shallIswim · 09/07/2021 11:28

@claralara42

Footballers aren't generally known for epic intelligence.
They've spent squillions of hours perfecting a very unique and high level skill rather I suppose than studying hard at school. Being in football academies probably gives you a different set of priorities. My DC spent a few extra hours studying to give them 'bookish' intelligence. It's just different. I wouldn't call Gary Linekar or Gareth Southgate unintelligent. Far from it.
the80sweregreat · 09/07/2021 11:48

Frank lampard went to a private school and seems very erudite during interviews.
They are not all dumb , but I just know that the only thing they could talk about is football and that would drive me mad to be honest 😂
Gareth or Marcus Rashford would make a decent politician , but it would be out their comfort zone to do a job like that. Plus people would still dislike their policies. Not everyone is keen on philanthropy or helping others, it would soon grow thin for many voters. Your appealing to a different set of people in politics.
I like Gary lineker on Twitter, but he gets a lot of abuse on there too. His brother is an entrepreneur in Spain, so they know how the economy works at least.

Blossomtoes · 09/07/2021 11:50

@claralara42

Footballers aren't generally known for epic intelligence.
And politicians are? Ever seen the ironically named James Cleverly interviewed?
Lemonmelonsun · 09/07/2021 11:53

what impresses me is how he brings other experts in for the team, apparently causing out cry for doing it.

I wish we could do this for our nhs and education.

Lemonmelonsun · 09/07/2021 11:56

"Frank lampard went to a private school and seems very erudite during interviews.
They are not all dumb "

Can I point out that not being able to express ones self eloquently doesn't mean the person is "dumb". They maybe bright as a button but did not have the back ground or school experience to support their learning and their learning style which is not their fault.