To Worry that mmost of the Cabinet have not had a real job outside Politics?

[galletti]

That's it really, following on from the Oxbridge thread.

[Quattrocento]

I agree with you. Gideon in charge of the economy is frankly laughable. And worrying. He has no background in finance or economics, has never held a proper job, has no understanding of the city, and is a ridiculous choice for such a heavyweight role.

As a recruiter, I wouldn't employ him.

[ahundredtimes]

I don't know whether I think it's a bad thing or not.

We don't ask this of other professionals - that a judge ought to have had experience as a nursery nurse before becoming a lawyer, or whatever. Or that an actor must have had their heart tragically broken before taking to the stage or that a surgeon must have had major surgery before picking up the scalpel. All of these might HELP them, but it shouldn't be seen as essential.

I don't mind professional politicians - because I think being a politician is indeed a profession?

I guess if you didn't want them, then you'd have to put an age limit on MPs. Which would introduce a whole host of other problems.

[TheCrackFox]

YANBU but the last bunch were similarly inept about the real world.

[Quattrocento]

I think it depends upon whether or not you view politics as a profession, 100x. Technically it isn't one.

But I want my politicians to understand what they are doing. Isn't that a fundamental requirement of modern democracy? I absolutely know that George O will not have the faintest clue, and therefore be heavily or entirely, reliant on the team at the treasury (who thankfully are pretty hot).

[nighbynight]

Being a professional politician prepares them for politicking.
For running say the Department of Education, I would prefer to see some real time experience of working in education.

[FiveGoMadInDorset]

Well for once we have got a minister for the environemnt and farming that had a job in agriculture before she became a politician.

[ahundredtimes]

See, I'd say running the D of E it'd be more useful to know about politicking than running a classroom

Agree about GO Quatt - though it is a knee-jerk assumption entirely based on hearing him talk and looking at him. Which is I guess about all I have to go on . . .

[EdgarAllenPoll]

they are politicans. being a politician, is, surely, the best prep for being a politician?

[Quattrocento]

I don't especially like the use of the word professional alongside the word politician.

Professions involve integrity, and regulation and codes of practice, and training and responsibility ...

[ahundredtimes]

I wonder if it's not thought of as a profession, historically, because it was seen as a 'gentleman's profession'

like going into the church

Times might have changed though, no?

[ahundredtimes]

Oh and I do agree with nighty's point that if you did have people with ten years experience in another profession, it'd be a good thing. I think it would, in an ideal world. I also increasingly think that politics must attract a certain type though, and perhaps those are the ones who do it?

I'd hate to

[EdgarAllenPoll]

given how many people with outstanding careers in other fields have made really shoddy politicans, I don't really think the OP has a good argument.

it is all very well knowing e.g. how to plan a lesson - it is another thing entirely to connive a budget for teacher training on lesson plannings from the treasury, formulate a cohesive implementation strategy (that makes it appear part of a bigger policy on education), and then attempt to make it palatable to teachers...

v.difficult.

[chandellina]

have to agree with EAP. And let's not forget the politicians rely heavily on advisers, staff and consultant types who do have the hands-on experience in industry, health, education, etc., much as we may suspect the special interests at work in these relationships.

[nighbynight]

But Edgar, not every teacher is going to be attracted to politics. As you quite rightly say, most of them would be far better at teaching. However, it's normal that some of them would get involved in politics, and if the brightest did succeed, then you would see some ex teachers in the governing party, logically at the D of E.
As for ignorant ministers relying on advisors and civil servants, wasnt there a comedy program about that?

I think the situation we are seeing in the Conservative party at the moment is control by a VERY tight clique with a narrow range of experience, and that is simply very unhealthy for the party and for the country when they are in government. That is what is alarming people.

[PrincessFiorimonde]

I don't think you necessarily should have been a teacher before becoming minister for education. Or a nurse/doctor before becoming minister for health. Etc.

But yes, I do think that you should have had some kind of job in the world outside of politics before becoming a minister of any shape or sort. Or indeed before becoming an MP. You should have gained some idea of what it is to work alongside a variety of people. You should not just have gone straight from university to become an MP's/MEP's researcher or adviser (for example) and then an MP. I don't care if you have worked as a teacher, nurse, care worker, railway worker, journalist, lawyer, dustman, engineer, etc., etc. - as long as you have done something outside of politics!

I believe this should be true of all politicians, regardless of party. Osborne, Clegg, Balls - for instance - all spring to mind as people who have never had a job outside the rarefied world of politics. I can't believe this helps any of them to connect with the vast majority of people.