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?

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

Be fair, it's about time it came round again.

Sure, because the childed, millionaire Etonians we currently have in charge have DEFINITELY got your kids' best interest at heart 🙄

Boris Johnson has kids, Jacob Rees Mogg has kids, Rishi Sunak has kids, Liz Truss has kids.

The issue is not whether you have kids or not.

Parliaments need all family types anyway.

“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.”

So you'd happily disadvantage people without children.

Well that was a very long way of saying you think parents are better people than childfree people!

We haven’t had this kind of thread in awhile, now. I think it’s been a week or two since the last one.

yes I was going to say this
basically an undercurrent of 'people without kids don't care about the future'

Many people vote to benefit their own interests, and, yes, whether you have kids/don't could influence what you prioritise to some extent, either as a voter or a politician. But so could thousands of other factors - where you're from, your job, religion, ethnicity, background, wealth, education, social views, if you're a homeowner, etc....

Asking whether being childfree is 'an issue' is where you're verging on insulting.

It doesn’t matter that they don’t have children, I’m sure they are just as capable of doing the job. However, I have often pondered that a lot (but not all!) of the women politicians who make the top jobs don’t have children - Nicola Sturgeon, Ruth Davidson (when she had her baby she gave up work), Theresa May - whereas the men all seem to have about five 😂. Or big families anyway. I wonder what this says about our society and patriarchy - I would love to see more mothers with big families get to the top…it makes me wonder whether it’s easier to advance a career with no children as women are still seen as the main caregiver - just a thought!

If you think having children makes you a better politician, why stop there? Would being of average income make you a better one? Or how about if you offspring tested, with bonus points for having at least one son and one daughter?

Maybe you could even have a fast track entry system to the House of Lords based on whether you were born in relative poverty and had grafted your way in politics after a career in a key worker role.

@ThisIsACoolUserName , only BJ and DC from the PMs in my lifetime are oldd etonians.

…it makes me wonder whether it’s easier to advance a career with no children as women are still seen as the main caregiver - just a thought!

Are you joking?

Yes, on the whole, definitely.

This.
Whether anybody doing any job is a parent or not is completely irrelevant.
Any person defining their capability of doing a job by the fact that they have children, shouldn't be doing the job.

Well I'm childless. If I was a politician no it certainly wouldn't't be a priority for me to address inheritance tax issues but I would prioritise making sure no children went hungry, the availability of high quality reasonably priced childcare, flexible working, mental health services for children, ensuring the education system meets all kids needs including those children with SEN, investment in good quality public housing. I'm not sure what that says about me.

My MP has children, that is why he went around Saudi trying to get them to pay him to represent them in parliament because you have to pay the school fees and ballet lessons are not cheap.

I wish I was joking #dklemon.

What a ridiculous perspective

That's very simplistic, I've sleayd been concerned for future generations even without children. You could also argue with consumerism, no one cares about the environment or future generations

I have no idea if my MP has children. It's not relevant.

And other people's children who aren't lucky enough to be born to wealthy parents.

Not just people without children, but other people’s children as well. Perhaps childless politicians are better as they are less blinded by the desire to promote their own offspring over what’s better for the general populace?

This. And interesting point, people with children are probably much more selfish

This, OP, is what you call a 'mic drop' 🎤

So you're basing this view on the huge sample size of your one sister (and possibly her partner)? That'll be accurate then ...
Would you be better just saying you've made better choices than your sister?

Because the idea that people who don't have children can't possibly make half-decent decisions on behalf of the rest of us is frankly ridiculous. There's a huge amount that I'd disagree with Nicola Sturgeon (and others you may be referencing) on, I don't think she or her party are the best examples of politicians doing their best for their peers ..... but by god I'll defend their right to do so irrespective of number of children they bear between them.

Do we extend this to only people who've worked in the oil & gas sector being Energy Secretary? Only train or bus drivers can be Transport Secretary? Only folk who have a certain seriousness of illness can be Health Secretary? Where do we stop?

By all means slate politicians you don't agree with, but for their public life decisions. Play the ball, not the (wo)man.

Exactly. Thank you.

Boris J has about fifty kids and is a terrible politician and person.

Of course you’re being ridiculous. Do you really think policies enabling people to leave maximum assets to their children should be a priority right now given the mess we’re in?

I assume your post is deliberately goady, surely you don’t think all childfree people are selfish and hedonistic? You do realise that they are also affected by the state of the NHS, the social care system, the cost of living, and all the other shit?

This is such a ridiculous nonsensical goady post that I feel the only possible response is

🍪

I think the issue is representation, just like for minorities. It's easy to imagine life as (insert life experience here) but you never know unless you've been through it yourself. I don't think it's an unreasonable observation. I feel that I was completely blind to family needs before I had a child. My priorities and life views have changed greatly. Now I realise my mother was right!