Groundbased

Is it a new phenomenon to fill the highest levels of government with mates who have never been elected and whose politics I have no idea of (although I could make a good guess).
I recall Blair did this to a degree, but I mean, Digby Jones, and Lord Stevens, what the hell do I know about them or their ability to do anything.
Has this always gone on?
Strikes me also that there are too many ministers, I heard a figure of 100 ish bandied about yesterday.

mrsurrey

hmmm... didn't politics used to be a 'public service' of a sort that semi-retired/retired successful professionals and businessmen used to take part in for the benefit of the country?

How can a career politician have a chance of successfully designing or implementing a policy if they don't have an appreciation of the practicalities of how large organisations behave?

If you were hiring for the board of Tesco would you in your wildest dreams consider one of the government ministers? If that would be absurd then why do they get to run the country?

MrS

frostbite

I would rather the appointment of Ministers who have been out in the world of work than those who have gone straight from university to politics.

Same goes for teachers.

tony draper

Agree Mr S, bringing in outsiders is the best idea they have had in years,makes a change from the musical chair shuffling betwixt ministries for the chosen few,mainly chosen because of their arse kissing the PM skills.