We need normal people to be running the country

[Marianne1234]

Not these Etonian freaks who have no idea what it’s like to live in the real world.

Where are they all? The lawyers, accountants, teachers. Clever professionals who have been to the state schools. Used the NHS. Lived amongst normal people. Been skint students who have struggled to pay their bills. Cared for elderly relatives. Been working mothers. Worked for a living.

Not ridiculous anachronisms like JRM or hooray Henry’s like David Cameron or national embarrassments like Boris (who was a national embarrassment before he was ever the PM).

It really is true that people who want to be in politics, should not be anywhere near it. Maybe we should conscript the normal people

I agree. There's no representation for me and the majority of folks I know.

Heck, in the current situation they don't even know what a woman is, let alone represent me.

It's because we don't live in a democracy. Just a fake one that's made to look like a democracy. It's all a load of bollocks and they're a load of bollocks.

They're in because they were voted for.

K Starmer is very ordinary.

What sane normal person would want that job? Far far easier ways to make that salary without the responsibility insane hours and abuse you get as an mp.

Yes we do, but getting in to politics is expensive and exclusive - you need to have time to be out getting support and doing really boring stuff at a low level like getting more bins added to the local park. Who has time to do that unless you have the support of someone with money?

Well, look at the useless ex-Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson. Sold fireplaces before becoming an MP.

Because normal people have affairs and break lockdown rules, and sneak off on illicit holidays and have mistresses and children too.

It's just that most people don't have the confidence to think they would be able to keep it quiet or face it out. Most people don't want to live in the public eye or be followed everywhere (and I mean everywhere) by a protection officer.

Most women don't want the price of their shoes or their coat published and judged. Most people don't want to leave their children open to endless bullying, or be stalked by extreme left or right wingers.

Margaret Thatcher was a grocer's daughter, attended a grammar school, was a skint student surrounded by hoorays. Look how that ended. John Major left school with 3 O'levels gained in difficult financial circumstances. Gordon Brown went to Kirkaldy High School.

We have had normal prime ministers but no-one seemed any happier.

The Labour Party have many of the professional ordinary working people that you are looking for. Angela Raynor and Kier Starmer for two.

@Grapesavocado

They're in because they were voted for.

K Starmer is very ordinary.

Sir Keir Rodney Starmer KCB QC, doesn't sound like your average Joe.

K Starmer is very ordinary.

That's a matter of opinion

Marianne1234 - I totally agree, we need a government of people who understand how it is to worry about paying the bills. Getting into politics really shouldn't be money dependent, it should be led by people with a passion to work for the greater good of everyone.

@MsTSwift

What sane normal person would want that job? Far far easier ways to make that salary without the responsibility insane hours and abuse you get as an mp.

You read my mind. No normal person would go anywhere near it.

Well, Margaret Thatcher came from a very "normal" background, as did John Major, Gordon Brown and Tony Blair I believe? I don't think Theresa May comes from a hugely wealthy family either. So in the last 43 years, five of our seven PMs have been from "normal" backgrounds. David Cameron and Boris Johnson are obviously the two that aren't.

Cue 47 posters saying how Keir is the Messiah and 47 other posters saying they'll keep voting Tory because yes.

Defunct systems just pump out dross. Class is irrelevant if half the electorate doesn't get a real say.

Sir Keir Rodney Starmer KCB QC, doesn't sound like your average Joe.

He wasn’t born a Sir and a QC

@MorningStarling Keir Rodney Starmer was born in Southwark, London, on 2 September 1962[1][2] and grew up in the small town of Oxted in Surrey.[3][4][5] He was born the second of the four children of Josephine (née Baker), a nurse, and Rodney Starmer, a toolmaker

He has a far more 'ordinary' childhood than most people I know...He was also far more successful in his career than almost anyone I know. Sounds like a good combination.

After all we should respect people for what they have done with their lives, not who their parents were.

YANBU

There’s another thread about Angela Rayner, and it’s clear that some of the animus against her comes is based in snobbery (she’s not classy, she’s loud, she doesn’t always speak grammatically).

I think it’s because we have had hundreds if not thousands of years in the country of being indoctrinated to believe that the upper “ruling” classes know what they are doing and are somehow looking after us.
If I want to be more intimidating I get posher - and it bloody works!
Too many of us hear a posh voice and the trappings of “old money” and we role over and bare our throats.
I’m not some sort of commie - never voted Labour in my life, went to Private school and earn well now but I really do agree that more ordinary people from varied backgrounds should be in charge. Unfortunately all too often they don’t see it as an option

This is the argument for paying politicians more. The successful, driven accountants and solicitors even headteachers and SE tradesmen, who rely on their income (ie don't have family money) can earn more than the PM and a lot more than an MP.

Where are they all? The lawyers, accountants, teachers. Clever professionals who have been to the state schools.

Why only lawyers, accountants and teachers? Why not cleaners, retail staff and Uber drivers? Or are you only allowed to run the country if you've had a "career"?

@QuestionsorComments

This is the argument for paying politicians more. The successful, driven accountants and solicitors even headteachers and SE tradesmen, who rely on their income (ie don't have family money) can earn more than the PM and a lot more than an MP.

I disagree. I don’t want politicians who are motivated by money. The kind of politician I want would consider £80k plus expenses to be a fair recompense for a role in which they can make a difference.

I fit your description OP.

State educated
Working mother
Working class parents
Chartered accountant
Used/benefitted from NHS a lot

a) going to work as an mp would mean a pay cut of about 15/20%
b) I assume the hours are hellish and not ideal with a young family
c) I dont know.... I think politics is a bit of scuzzy career now. All the parties are crap and it's full of cronyism, old boys club
d) I've had a corporate career and I expect everything I've ever worked on will somehow be used to discredit or embarrass me somehow
e) it's all a big popularity contest and people would probably hate me/not vote for me, I'm too blunt, I will say it like it is and people often don't like people stating the facts if they don't agree with them

Yes, I understand your point BlossomToes, but where are all these "ordinary people" with the skills to do the job who aren't motivated by money?. If you've struggled from a poor background to get yourself well qualified (via a mountain of student debt) and are finally on a career path to change all that, would you take a pay cut? Would you be supportive of a partner who wanted to do that to take on a job that could be all over within 3/5 years?

It is certainly true that the people who want the power are the last people who should have it, but the best thing about democracy is the alternatives, as they say.

Also the Eton types are largely Tories. If people don't want them, it's easy, they need to vote differently.

The kind of politician I want would consider £80k plus expenses to be a fair recompense for a role in which they can make a difference.

Yeah well if you live in the south east and havent inherited a house, 80k doesnt go that far on a massive mortgage when you've childcare to pay