The Paucity of Political Talent in the UK - Blame the EU
Discussion
Hammersia said:
Lorna Slater apparently, Scottish minister for Green issues?
If I was being absolutely fair, which is my reputation on PH, she apparently does have qualifications outside of politics:
"From 1993 to 2000, she attended the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, where she gained a degree in electro-mechanical engineering design.[7]
In 2000, a month after she was due to graduate, she purchased a one-way ticket to Glasgow and planned to travel across Europe for two years, but ended up staying in Scotland.[5] After moving there, she worked as an engineer in the renewables sector, then later as a project manager."
It took her 7 years to do a 3 year degree.If I was being absolutely fair, which is my reputation on PH, she apparently does have qualifications outside of politics:
"From 1993 to 2000, she attended the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, where she gained a degree in electro-mechanical engineering design.[7]
In 2000, a month after she was due to graduate, she purchased a one-way ticket to Glasgow and planned to travel across Europe for two years, but ended up staying in Scotland.[5] After moving there, she worked as an engineer in the renewables sector, then later as a project manager."
paulrockliffe said:
Hammersia said:
Lorna Slater apparently, Scottish minister for Green issues?
If I was being absolutely fair, which is my reputation on PH, she apparently does have qualifications outside of politics:
"From 1993 to 2000, she attended the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, where she gained a degree in electro-mechanical engineering design.[7]
In 2000, a month after she was due to graduate, she purchased a one-way ticket to Glasgow and planned to travel across Europe for two years, but ended up staying in Scotland.[5] After moving there, she worked as an engineer in the renewables sector, then later as a project manager."
It took her 7 years to do a 3 year degree.If I was being absolutely fair, which is my reputation on PH, she apparently does have qualifications outside of politics:
"From 1993 to 2000, she attended the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, where she gained a degree in electro-mechanical engineering design.[7]
In 2000, a month after she was due to graduate, she purchased a one-way ticket to Glasgow and planned to travel across Europe for two years, but ended up staying in Scotland.[5] After moving there, she worked as an engineer in the renewables sector, then later as a project manager."
paulrockliffe said:
Hammersia said:
Lorna Slater apparently, Scottish minister for Green issues?
If I was being absolutely fair, which is my reputation on PH, she apparently does have qualifications outside of politics:
"From 1993 to 2000, she attended the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, where she gained a degree in electro-mechanical engineering design.[7]
In 2000, a month after she was due to graduate, she purchased a one-way ticket to Glasgow and planned to travel across Europe for two years, but ended up staying in Scotland.[5] After moving there, she worked as an engineer in the renewables sector, then later as a project manager."
3 years full time study. If I was being absolutely fair, which is my reputation on PH, she apparently does have qualifications outside of politics:
"From 1993 to 2000, she attended the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, where she gained a degree in electro-mechanical engineering design.[7]
In 2000, a month after she was due to graduate, she purchased a one-way ticket to Glasgow and planned to travel across Europe for two years, but ended up staying in Scotland.[5] After moving there, she worked as an engineer in the renewables sector, then later as a project manager."
How long do you think it would take if one were to study part time?
It took her 7 years to do a 3 year degree.
Earthdweller said:
The dumbing down of society in general
The professional politician, straight from school to university politics degree then into Parliament and becoming an MP … zero outside life skills
It’s not directed at any party but all of them but our national leaders are sadly no more competent than mediocre local councillors
The days of successful people from all walks of life choosing a later career in politics as a vocation are becoming very rare and that is our loss
And yet the average age of MPs has remained almost constant since 1979 (https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/house-of-commons-trends-the-age-of-mps/)The professional politician, straight from school to university politics degree then into Parliament and becoming an MP … zero outside life skills
It’s not directed at any party but all of them but our national leaders are sadly no more competent than mediocre local councillors
The days of successful people from all walks of life choosing a later career in politics as a vocation are becoming very rare and that is our loss
I would also suggest that pre 1900 the average age would be younger.
Evercross said:
Jinx said:
EC was a precursor of the EU and didn't have the same control over member state legislation that the EU had. That came in 1993 with the full implementation of Maastricht.Greenland left the EC in 1985. It was never a member of the EU.
Splitting hairs though.
Jinx said:
Evercross said:
Jinx said:
EC was a precursor of the EU and didn't have the same control over member state legislation that the EU had. That came in 1993 with the full implementation of Maastricht.Greenland left the EC in 1985. It was never a member of the EU.
Splitting hairs though.
Could I just point out that Switzerland is surrounded by the EU but is not a member. However I know of one Franco/Swiss border post which is not only unmanned but does not contain a single stick of furniture, which shows that the EU antipathy to non-members is somewhat partial.
To return to topic I see the OP's point of view and have wondered the same in the past. However looking around the world other countries outside the EU seem to have produced some home grown lemons as well. Maybe the experiences of WW2 forced a more mature view of the world onto now-departed politicians who might otherwise have never experienced a life outside politics?
In the UK the practice of national political parties parachuting favoured candidates into constituences doesn't help with engagement with the political process.
To return to topic I see the OP's point of view and have wondered the same in the past. However looking around the world other countries outside the EU seem to have produced some home grown lemons as well. Maybe the experiences of WW2 forced a more mature view of the world onto now-departed politicians who might otherwise have never experienced a life outside politics?
In the UK the practice of national political parties parachuting favoured candidates into constituences doesn't help with engagement with the political process.
Dogwatch said:
Could I just point out that Switzerland is surrounded by the EU but is not a member. However I know of one Franco/Swiss border post which is not only unmanned but does not contain a single stick of furniture, which shows that the EU antipathy to non-members is somewhat partial.
Of course.Brexit is a punishment beating.This explains everything. Have you considered going into politics? CivicDuties said:
If this is indeed the case, then the only rational conclusion to draw would be that the political talent running the EU was superior to that in the UK, and it would therefore be inadvisable to leave the EU.
False logic.It could equally be argued (which was my original point) that UK political talent was once equal or even superior to the supra-national government entity, but the talent waned when it was felt there was no need to have it there as what was incoming policy was 'good enough' (plus easier to scapegoat).
The greater point is that the danger of outsourcing any skill is that it will eventually be lost to your own workforce.
Evercross said:
CivicDuties said:
If this is indeed the case, then the only rational conclusion to draw would be that the political talent running the EU was superior to that in the UK, and it would therefore be inadvisable to leave the EU.
False logic.It could equally be argued (which was my original point) that UK political talent was once equal or even superior to the supra-national government entity, but the talent waned when it was felt there was no need to have it there as what was incoming policy was 'good enough' (plus easier to scapegoat).
CivicDuties said:
If this is indeed the case, then the only rational conclusion to draw would be that the political talent running the EU was superior to that in the UK, and it would therefore be inadvisable to leave the EU.
Superior political talent at EU level does not equal a better outcome for the UK though. Incompetents who have the UK interests at heart would produce better results for the UK than competent EU politicians who put the UKs interests at the bottom of their priorities.Jinx said:
CivicDuties said:
If this is indeed the case, then the only rational conclusion to draw would be that the political talent running the EU was superior to that in the UK, and it would therefore be inadvisable to leave the EU.
Superior political talent at EU level does not equal a better outcome for the UK though. Incompetents who have the UK interests at heart would produce better results for the UK than competent EU politicians who put the UKs interests at the bottom of their priorities.Guys. You won. We're out. You sunk the country, well done. Can I suggest you go and get another hobby now?
CivicDuties said:
Ah the false premise yet again, described above by other posters, that the UK, even when it was part of the EU, had absolutely no say in it or influence.
Guys. You won. We're out. You sunk the country, well done. Can I suggest you go and get another hobby now?
Incompetents v competents in a competitive environment for resources - who will win? So no not a false premise - saw it with EU funding - UK bids were rarely picked above the better written bids from other EU countries (more a civil service issue than politicians in this case but the theory remains the same). Guys. You won. We're out. You sunk the country, well done. Can I suggest you go and get another hobby now?
Evercross said:
Hear me out on this one. The UK was a member of the EU and its predecessor the European Community (aka the Common Market) for 47 years, and in much of that time, particularly latterly, a significant majority of policy and legislation passed by our UK parliaments was simply a ratification of unifying principles, policy and rules agreed at EU level (there are those who will argue this was not the case, but statute proves otherwise).
This led to several generations of politicians who no longer had to have ideas and principles and who didn't have to navigate complex issues in order to win elections as they were simply the public face of a rubber stamping body exercising the will of an organisation that was doing most of the thinking for them.
This turned turned our political class into actors and entertainers rather than thinkers and doers.
Remove the safety net of the European Directive and they are now all to a man/women/insert-chosen-pronoun found wanting.
Discuss.
Tl:DR - admittedly clickbaity title, but UK's membership of the EU made our political class lazy.
Increased ice cream sales also increase sun cream sales. This led to several generations of politicians who no longer had to have ideas and principles and who didn't have to navigate complex issues in order to win elections as they were simply the public face of a rubber stamping body exercising the will of an organisation that was doing most of the thinking for them.
This turned turned our political class into actors and entertainers rather than thinkers and doers.
Remove the safety net of the European Directive and they are now all to a man/women/insert-chosen-pronoun found wanting.
Discuss.
Tl:DR - admittedly clickbaity title, but UK's membership of the EU made our political class lazy.
Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff