Nick Clegg - do as I say, not as I do!

[NomduJour]

V8mate said:

It certainly exists in politics. The number of recent and next election candidates who are the kids of policitians from the 70s-90s is quite astonishing.

Most visible politicians have to be elected.

[V8mate]

NomduJour said:

V8mate said:

It certainly exists in politics. The number of recent and next election candidates who are the kids of policitians from the 70s-90s is quite astonishing.

Most visible politicians have to be elected.

And the 'network' ensures that the offspring of previous influencers get the best seats to run in.

[rover 623gsi]

HundredthIdiot said:

Antonio?

Mrs Clegg is Spanish and Catholic.

[Blackpuddin]

V8mate said:

It certainly exists in politics. The number of recent and next election candidates who are the kids of policitians from the 70s-90s is quite astonishing.

They are ludicrous relics of a bygone age. In a time of massive change it's quite remarkable how little politicians have changed. They are the living embodiment of maintaining the status quo. If you ran a 2013 screening of Question Time immediately after one from 1993 (or earlier) I suspect you would see very little difference in the way they talk and behave.

[NomduJour]

V8mate said:

And the 'network' ensures that the offspring of previous influencers get the best seats to run in.

Surely as much an indictment of a partisan electorate and it doesn't always work - e.g. Tamsin Dunwoody, David Prescott. Hardly North Korea.

[James P]

ewenm said:

James P said:

He has just shown himself to be a hypocrite, but is that really a surprise?

How? The two statements "I don't like this system, it should be changed" and "I will do the best for my kids within the current system" are not contradictory or hypocritical. From what others have posted, it seems this school is his local comprehensive; if so, then it seems a pretty normal place to send his son.

Edit: Although I'm sure the name will have helped with an over-subscribed school.

Edited by ewenm on Monday 4th March 15:06

All the other schools in the area that do operate in a way that is policitally to his liking are good enough for other people's kids but are not good enough for his?

Re your edit, I suspect that politicians have no personal experience of over-subscribed schools, that is just something they read about in letters received from constituents.

Edit - I am conveniently aligning him with his party line which he does seem to oppose.

Edited by James P on Monday 4th March 16:50

[Twincam16]

NomduJour said:

Twincam16 said:

how many people who don't truly deserve it are finding themselves old-boy-networked into positions of influence and authority they don't really deserve?

Not convinced it really exists in professional life. University choice (where positive discrimination in favour of state schools does exist) is a far bigger factor in employment.

Hardly - once you've got through university you end up battling the internship system, which is skewed in favour of those most able to live without pay in a big city for a year or more. Finding the internships and the people with sufficient folding to put you up while you do it has more to do with who you went to school with and how rich your parents are than where you went to university.

[NomduJour]

Twincam16 said:

once you've got through university you end up battling the internship system

Internships? For what profession? Do you mean vacation schemes (which would be done during university holidays) and for which expenses are provided?

[V8mate]

NomduJour said:

V8mate said:

And the 'network' ensures that the offspring of previous influencers get the best seats to run in.

Surely as much an indictment of a partisan electorate and it doesn't always work - e.g. Tamsin Dunwoody, David Prescott.

There's another whole thread on whether people vote for candidates or parties.

[Twincam16]

NomduJour said:

Twincam16 said:

once you've got through university you end up battling the internship system

Internships? For what profession? Do you mean vacation schemes (which would be done during university holidays) and for which expenses are provided?

'Vacation schemes' - are you posting from an American point of view? Because over here, if you want a job in just about anything other than the kind of area of work where the qualification automatically includes work experience (law, medicine, chemistry etc), it seems the only way in is to offer to work for free. Only for a small handful are expenses provided.

Those with more experience (which really transpires as 'those who can afford to live in London without being paid while doing a full-time job for longer than everyone else') have the advantage when it comes to sending off their CV in order to get a proper job. And of course if you're going to live unsupported in London or suchlike, you'll need to know people who live there who can put you up, and who are capable of doing so without needing extra money to do it. Which is where wealthy contacts come in.

[Andy Zarse]

VoziKaoFangio said:

otolith said:

Actually, it looks as if he has consistently and publically disagreed with the party line on this matter - in which case I don't have a problem with his actions.

So it's a non story on every level then. Case closed.

Is it just me or is Nick Clegg a lump of bullst made human, interwoven with strands of dishonestly and insincerity. He lies, lies and lies again. Every word that comes out of his disgusting hideous wet-lipped fish face is utterly dishonest. Not content with saying sorry (see You Tube) about tuition fees, and denying/bare-faced lying he knew nowt about Rennart, now this heap of steaming hypocrisy.

I utterly despise Clegg, even more than I ever did Winky, and that is saying something. Clegg is a turd on legs, a lanky streak of dog's diarrhoea. I have more regard for the foul green lubricant that sits at the entrance to my dog's penile sheath - you know the stuff, it looks like pus but isn't - than I have for anything to come out of the hateful deluded mouth of the repulsive and disgusting Clegg.

It speaks volumes for the LibDem membership being guiless gullible idiots that they could believe his old crap.

Edited by Andy Zarse on Monday 4th March 17:40

[HundredthIdiot]

Andy Zarse said:

I have more regard for the foul green lubricant that sits at the entrance to my dog's penile sheath - you know the stuff, it looks like pus but isn't

Too. Much. Information.

[turbobloke]

Andy Zarse said:

VoziKaoFangio said:

otolith said:

Actually, it looks as if he has consistently and publically disagreed with the party line on this matter - in which case I don't have a problem with his actions.

So it's a non story on every level then. Case closed.

Is it just me or is Nick Clegg a lump of bullst made human, interwoven with strands of dishonestly and insincerity. He lies, lies and lies again. Ever word that comes out of his disgusting hideous wet-lipped fish face is utterly dishonest. Not content with saying sorry (see You Tube) about tuition fees, and denying/bare-faced lying he knew nowt about Rennart, now this heap of steaming hypocrisy.

I utterly despise Clegg, even more than I ever did Winky, and that is saying something. Clegg is a turd on legs, alanky streak of dog's diarrhoea. I have more regard for the foul green lubricant that sits at the entrance to my dog's penile sheath - you know the stuff, it looks like pus but isn't - than I have for anything to come out of the hateful deluded mouth of the repulsive and disgusting Clegg.

It speaks volumes for the LibDem membership being guiless gullible idiots that they could believe his old crap.

Yes OK but why not say what you really think

[Andy Zarse]

HundredthIdiot said:

Too. Much. Information.

Don't blame me, I didn't vote for him. Blame the Lib Dem membership.

[NomduJour]

Twincam16 said:

if you want a job in just about anything other than the kind of area of work where the qualification automatically includes work experience (law, medicine, chemistry etc), it seems the only way in is to offer to work for free

So you mean jobs which aren't in the traditional professions and not, in fact, anything to do with a supposed old boy's network? Presumably media roles?

I imagine that the people who really want it find a way to do it, the others probably moan and whine and blame someone else. Life just isn't fair.

[ClaphamGT3]

James P said:

ClaphamGT3 said:

RSoovy4 said:

What an absolute tosspot.

Send him to a comprehensive like normal people have to, you hypocritical c###.

Politicians kids are no more a social experiment than anyone elses - he and his wife should be able to send them to whatever school they feel is best for them

Everyone should be able to send their kids to the school they think is best for them. Unfortunately most people live in the real world and some are over-subscribed and parents have no choice apart from sending their kids to the school they are told to.

He should be able to apply to send his kids to exactly the same schools as all the other the kids wherever he lives. If the school they want is full or out of the area, then he just has to put up with it the same as everyone else.

He has just shown himself to be a hypocrite, but is that really a surprise?

If I criticise him for anything its for consuming a place in the maintained sector when it seems more than probable that he and his wife could afford to educate their children privately

[SpeckledJim]

rover 623gsi said:

HundredthIdiot said:

Antonio?

Mrs Clegg is Spanish and Catholic.

Surely the only reasonable name for a young man named Clegg is Norman.

"Antonio Clegg!"

"Here sir."

<class sniggers>

[Twincam16]

NomduJour said:

I imagine that the people who really want it find a way to do it, the others probably moan and whine and blame someone else. Life just isn't fair.

Ever wondered why the media is dominated by upper-class ex-public school types?

Same goes for politics. And banking. And anything creative.

But no, you maintain your prejudice.

Also, what's wrong with wanting to make things fairer? (unless, as I suspect, many on this particular forum have a vested interest in keeping them unfair).

[BMWBen]

Twincam16 said:

NomduJour said:

I imagine that the people who really want it find a way to do it, the others probably moan and whine and blame someone else. Life just isn't fair.

Ever wondered why the media is dominated by upper-class ex-public school types?

Same goes for politics. And banking. And anything creative.

But no, you maintain your prejudice.

Also, what's wrong with wanting to make things fairer? (unless, as I suspect, many on this particular forum have a vested interest in keeping them unfair).

Nobody works for free in banking my friend. Graduate schemes are amongst the highest paying of them all, and so are the internships.

[Steffan]

rover 623gsi said:

HundredthIdiot said:

Antonio?

Mrs Clegg is Spanish and Catholic.

Indeed she is and made of of much stronger stuff than her husband. I would expect the decision to be hers. Clegg is a very fortunate man who has landed on his feet in a good political position without ever achieving very much. He will fall from grace and power with equal speed. He is visibly completely out of his depth. He will soon sink to his own level of failure unsupported by his real lack of any ability.