Childless politicians: is it an issue?

[Chocchops72]

There have been lots of posts popping up on my Twitter feed pointing out that many of the leading politicians in Scotland do not have children. From Nicola Sturgeon to many of the leading Scottish Greens (who seem to be in the news and setting the pace more than other SNP MSPs).

Is this an issue? Do / would childless politicians put different policies in place compared to those with children?

I have two children, my sister has none. While she’s a great aunty and loves them deeply, I’m aware that we don’t have the same priorities in life. Her interests basically extend as far as her and her partner having a good life after they retire. She’s very much of the opinion that ‘you chose to be a parent, don’t expect anyone else to prioritise the things that you do’. An example being inheritance… I’m kind of hoping (but not banking on) an inheritance from my parents that will make my kids life easier (and my parents definitely want that). My sister is totally dismissive of this: she and her partner already have enough for them and that it’s. I totally expect her to leave all her wealth to the cat and dog home tbh, whereas DH and I are very motivated to pass as many assets and advantages as possible onto our own children. And we would favour any tax or other legal policies that support that.

what do you think?

I think, given the disgusting depths of corruption were currently seeing in government, whether or not any of the feckless excuses for politicians have kids is the least of the problems. Doesn’t Boris Johnson have about 95 kids with one on the way? It hasn’t made him any less of a twat.

It doesn’t matter whether a politician has kids or not in regards to how well or poorly they do their job.

Not only politicians, but plenty of people in society don’t have children. Should they not be represented? Or not be allowed to vote, given your suggestion that their vote is somehow less virtuous than yours, OP?

It's not an issue. HTH.

You're being absurd. I can't believe you think not having children is an issue for political representatives.

And by that measure, Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees Mogg with their uncountable numbers of children would be the ideal politicians.

Definitely an issue OP. Look at how good ex-PM Johnson was. All because he has DC.

Well, if they produce policies which prioritise the child free they're not likely to be in power for long, are they - the numbers just don't add up.

Child free people also deserve a government that represents them.

As above - Nicola may not have children but I think many if not most of her (former) team do and let’s face it she did introduce the baby box 🙄
Re your sister . Don’t judge us all like that. I don’t have kids. I will
do my utmost to ensure my sisters kids are not burdened by me in old age but if there is anything left to inherit, it’s for them ( and I love dogs 😂)

@GCAcademic , I think JRM can count the number of offspring he has.

You’re being utterly ridiculous- and why should the opinions of those who have children be any more valid than those who don’t?

People who don’t have kids may have different priorities, that doesn’t make those priorities any less important- having kids doesn’t make you more intelligent or any better at a particular job, what a bizarre suggestion!

Yes, to be fair he probably can. But I’ve certainly lost count.

You mean women politicians, right? Bloody hell.

This thread is reminiscent of one of the many recent Tory leadership contests, the one where Andrea Leadsom suggested that she was more fit to be leader than Theresa May because she had reproduced.

I looked it up, he has six children, which obviously makes him fitter to govern than nearly all other politicians.

I think if Nicola had kids at your average Scottish state school she might have understood parents concerns about her turning a blind eye to violence.

then if she had kids she might also know that transing a bored 13 year old who says they are the opposite sex is a major mistake.

and if she had a 14 year old girl she might realise that letting a rapist of a 14 year old go free with no custodial sentence is a mistake.

By that logic politicians should have every possible life experience, or they couldn’t legislate for anything.

I think all of that requires common sense and empathy rather than actually reproducing.

I’m childfree by choice, and whether politicians have children or not is irrelevant to how I vote. I wouldn’t vote for Boris Johnson, irrespective of him having god knows how many kids. Nor did I vote for Theresa May, irrespective of her having none.
I do, however, think it would benefit the Labour party’s electability to have a working mother as leader. It’s a shame Yvette Cooper didn’t win the 2015 leadership election.

Well, I thought you were going to suggest people with children might think more about equality, sustainability, affordable housing, the environment, work-life balance, paternity leave, a citizens' income, saving the NHS, human rights, child poverty, world food distribution, state education...you know, issues that affect the non-rich and affect younger and future generations.

But of course people without children care about these things too...whereas your example of thinking about an inheritance is directed solely at your own children and can be extended to other grandchildren of well-off people, whereas the issues I mention above are inheritances for all children.

I think, however, that more MPs who are mothers breastfeeding and demanding flexible working, jobshares and universal childcare would be a good thing, and of course fathers and people without children also campaigning for these things.

I’m also going to point out that Nicola sturgeon has gone on record as having had at least one miscarriage, and I’m not ok with defining how well women can perform as politicians by their fertility tbh.

Sturgeon not seeing all that isn't because she doesn't have children @Afishcalledwand . It's because in the case of numbers 2 and 3 she's blinded by an ideology. As are a lot of parents.

'This thread is reminiscent of one of the many recent Tory leadership contests, the one where Andrea Leadsom suggested that she was more fit to be leader than Theresa May because she had reproduced.'

Exactly, and look how well that ended for Leadsom 🙄

The old 'childfree people only think of themselves while parents are selfless martyrs just brimming with empathy' nonsense. How incredibly tiresome

'I think all of that requires common sense and empathy rather than actually reproducing'

Very well said

I’m pretty sure that there are plenty of child free people who have concerns about these things. Unless you’re saying that child free people are somehow malign and/or supporters of male violence?

“DH and I are very motivated to pass as many assets and advantages as possible onto our own children. And we would favour any tax or other legal policies that support that.”

you’re putting me off voting for people with children.