AIBU to want politicians with strong academic and business backgrounds?

[Catsandjkr]

AIBU to want politicans to be highly academically successful And have experience in running a business?

I'm so tired of these low grade politicians ruining our lives. They can lie (as Starmer exempifies), they don't need qualifications or experience to get the job. In inexplicable in other areas of life.

What a joke. But I suppose when its politicans like Lammy, Starmer, Reeves in charge, it won't ever change.

What business did he run?

Thorn in the Side Ltd - you can google it, there's an article in the FT from 26 February last year.

The founders of boohoo.com ran a successful business but didn't notice the UK sweat shops in their supply chain. Jeff Bezos runs an incredibly successful business with exploitative employment practices. What about all the very successful businesses who put a large amount of effort into avoiding tax?

Honesty, integrity, the ability to stay calm and take balanced perspectives to make the best decision for the country not themselves, the ability to diffuse disagreement and build consensus, the ability to understand nuance. Those are the qualities I want in a politician. I don't know where we find them but I'm pretty sure it's not big business or academia.

I read Boris Johnston spent over 2 k on gold wallpaper with Tax payers money also partied like a teenager whilst telling people to stay at home..so there is that .

He went to Leeds. Perfectly decent. Do you think anyone who doesn't go to Oxbridge must be stupid?

We need fewer politicians who went to Oxford, not more of them. RG undergrad and Oxbridge masters is a decent academic backround.

There’s another vote in a week and Labour can find out how well liked they are.

On your op, understanding of behaviour and economics would help. What happens if you tax businesses / jobs for example.

Btw I shouldn't Have to explain but I said

academically successful And with business experience

All the Lefties have surprisingly missed that one, with their AI scripts of Starmer academics. I won't explain again.

I think this is spot on, so many MPs now from the main parties have got to where they are via uni then political networking often via a parliamentary researcher or lobbying job that puts them in prime position to get on Party candidates lists and ultimately to being adopted as the candidate in a constituency where there's a good chance they'll get elected.
Older candidates who have lived experience of the issues that affect us all plus have had "real" jobs out in the big wide world either don't apply or don't get selected. I think that's a big reason we find ourselves where we are now, this has been going on for 35 years that I know of.

Eton and Oxbridge is a stereotype that would be good to move on from.

I would prefer knowledgeable people. Eg Education Minister who worked in education, Health minister who worked in health.

All the people you list are academically successful, OP. They're a better example of how being academically able doesn't necessarily make you politically able.

I do agree that it would be good to have more people with business experience in parliament and in the civil service- career politicians and career civil servants come sometimes lack the experience to know how policy will work in the real world. That's not the same as saying that everyone should have a business background, and there are big differences between running the country and running a business. When we have in the past brought in business leaders to advise government they've generally been completely useless (Lord Sugar and Lord Jones spring to mind).

A good example of someone who combines academic, real world and government experience is Steve Webb- a real expert in pensions, genuinely cares about how they work in the real world, has been a professor of social policy, a minister and now works in the private sector but remains active in public life.

You also said he didn't get into Oxford like that was somehow significant. Stop changing your story.

😂quite

I have no intention of "waffling on" about anything. In fact I don't think you're actually a poster I care to engage with for much longer anyway.

Agreed and Yeah it's more the fact he goes on about it as if it is. Like he drones on about being a barrister.

I most definitely Have not 'changed my story' - it is crystal clear.

Personally I'm sick to death of watching private school boys run the country into the ground. I'd much prefer to be represented by someone who is reflective of the majority of people in the country. Educated and informed absolutely but it takes so much more than having grades and a 'business head'.

Michelle Mone was also a brilliant addition to the HoL wasn't she!! Definitely a successful business person. But morally bankrupt too.

People with outstanding academic qualifications (you appear to demand Oxbridge) AND experience of running successful businesses are as able to run for parliament as anyone else - nobody is stopping them.

So why don't they...?

That maybe so - but they don't have the second part of my requirement - business experience. As I said in the Op.

Yes agree about SW.

I think we need a variety of experiences and running a succeful business brings a lot to the table as does a solid education (not all degrees)

I dont think running a country is like running a business though. I think trump for instances is trying to run diplomacy like a business transaction and I dont think its great.

I don't demand Oxbridge. More Starmer goes on about the fact he's a barrister and went to Oxford.. I was qualifying it somewhat.

I agree. 100 %

Yes awful.

Do you think the absolutely so not private school boys and girls we've had for nearly 2 years are doing any better?

Hahaha youre ridiculous.

So if KS had run a business he'd be ok? So youre advocating that Trump would be a better politician because hes a Businessman?

Your post is ridiculous, your argument is ridiculous. Your challenge is ridiculous. Your quantifications are ridiculous.

And to top it all everyone pointing out your flaws is a lefty?

I'm not even going to respond. I can explain it to you but i cant understand it for you.

That happens often doesn't it when one disagrees with a poster.