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 with the OP. And it’s not enough to have a bright leader from an ordinary background, the majority of the team need to be. The Whitehall civil servants could do with a good overhaul as well.

A reasonable level of education and a lot of motivation to learn is needed to analyze policy, understand the issues, but I wouldn’t link eligibility to particular professions.

I’m probably ideal as a candidate because I am from a poor background but have had a professional career. I’ve had tons of media experience and I’m of an age where I have enough financial security and life experience to enter politics. The trouble is that most people get into politics through their local party and none of them appeal to me. Independents seem to get nowhere at election time.

On a local level flatpack democracy is changing some places but I don’t know enough about it to say how it would translate nationally.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/22/flatpack-democracy-peoples-republic-of-frome

@daimbarsatemydogsbone

The fact that he grew up in oxtead[sic] in Surrey means that he’s far more privileged than most of the country to start with. I grew up there too so I know it well.

🤣🤣🤣🤣

I'm intrigued now why that poster said 'Oxtead' was posh.

Boris, is that you? You don't have to lie about everything, you know 😂

@Grapesavocado

They're in because they were voted for.

K Starmer is very ordinary.

Yep. Stop voting them in. It's fairly simple.

@GreenLunchBox was also confused by what she meant by oxted being a world away from London. The most expensive housing in the country is still in certain london neighbourhoods like kensington and bishops avenue. There are very few places outside london which are as expensive, 50 years ago or currently. And Oxted is definitely not one of them.

Bishops Avenue is largely abandoned but the few people who live there are richer than the Queen. I live ten minutes from Bishops Avenue and am extremely ordinary. So I don't understand how Keir starmer can be 'privileged' living in Oxted because Oxted may have some posh streets when I am not privileged just by living near Billionaires Row!

I wonder if Starmer ever regrets accepting his Knighthood? It seems to be a millstone round his neck.

He got it in 2014, before he went into politics, for his work as Director of Public Prosecutions. Honours go with the job for senior civil servants, so it was part of his pay grade.

His problem is that people who don’t understand this think he’s ‘posh’ when he’s actually a normal bloke from a normal background who went to grammar school, worked hard and climbed the career ladder.

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.

this, it's bizarre

Keir Starmer is too much of a fence sitter for my liking, I prefer Angela Rayner she's more outspoken and seems to have some gumption. I know people don't seem to like either of them though.

The fact that he grew up in oxtead in Surrey means that he’s far more privileged than most of the country to start with

This is his family home in Oxted. Doesn't look very privileged to me.

..."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..."

You are either VERY naive or very young if you perceive these types of people (indeed anyone unless you really know them) to be 'normal' people.

I would like to see a requirement for prospective MPs to have worked for at least five consecutive years in a job completely outside politics.

As long as they are not divisive and vindictive class haters yes please!

Professional here.

Personally I don't think that the money of being an MP is worth it for the exposure, hate and ridicule women in that role receive.

I can earn far more than that being anonymous.

What about Sadiq Khan? He is useless but ordinary so there you go.

@NiceShrubbery

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.

Oh like Biden was the messiah and how is that going?

@eddiemairswife

I would like to see a requirement for prospective MPs to have worked for at least five consecutive years in a job completely outside politics.

But some of them have had jobs/careers outside politics and are still useless.

Look at Rishi Sunak - only entered Parliament in 2015.
Tony Blair was a barrister before he became an MP.

I don’t get the “Sir Kier Starmer is too posh and not a man of the people” argument.

So what are you gonna do? Vote for Boris? He hardly dragged himself up off the streets did he?

@Asdf12345

If I were to take five years out to be an MP for a term it would cost me substantially lifetime earnings in its impact on my career unless I found a way to leverage it financially. That is why I want to be represented by someone independently wealthy who would be harder to buy.

I do begrudgingly accept that everyone has a price, but would hope beyond a certain level of security people are much harder to buy.

That's demonstrably not been the case though has it? Regardless of personal wealth they all, without fail, seek to enrich themselves further.

don’t get the “Sir Kier Starmer is too posh and not a man of the people” argument

He's a Sir that used to be anti-royals, so posh twat or fawning sycophant.

They’re in the Labour party. Keir Starmer, Angela Rayner, David Lammy, Thanggam Debonnaire. Not an old Etonian among them.

(Same applies to the SNP and the Lib Dems)

When you stand for election you get elected for a 5 year term. More recently GEs have happened as soon as 2 years apart. How many ordinary, working people with families could afford to give up their jobs to become MPs not knowing if they're going to be out of a job in 2 or 5 years time?
Unfortunately, the way our political system works, only people who already have money behind them, are in a position to stand for election

It is not snobbish to say that Angela Raynor is loud, and mouthy, its stating a. Fact

@MintJulia

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.

Agreed.

I would like a government of reasonable, honest, intelligent people, who saw the job as ‘service’ rather than self glorification. I don’t care where they went to school or what their parents did for a job.

@MintJulia

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.

This and the fact intelligent People can earn more and have a better life not doing this job....