"They're not like us, are they? Politicians, I mean."
What a strange things to say, I thought. But then I realised that Humphrys was probably reflecting the view of most of his listeners. The challenge for politicians is to demonstrate that actually, they do lead similar lives to the rest of the population and do not live in ivory towers. The only politicians who should genuinely look at themselves and analyse whether they have lost touch with reality are government ministers (and I'd say this if they were Tories). If you spend ten years in government, especially at the top end, it is too easy to lose touch with what so-called 'ordinary people' are thinking. And I think that is part of Labour's problem at the moment.
22 comments:
Disagree with you Iain - some of the greatest political leaders in modern history were nothing like "us".
This drive towards "normalising" politicians is why we suddenly get to the ridiculous situation of ministers at MOD being criticised for making decisions without having been in the army, and suggestions that David Cameron will be a rotten PM because he's never been poor.
The analogy is the bicycling Scandanavian royals - if the royal family is exactly like the rest of us, why are we paying them loads of money to do what they do?
Politicians (in an ideal world)should be bright, driven by a sense of duty not personal advancement and capable of managing and taking major decsions well.
My mates are people I like going down the pub with, but I wouldn't want them running the NHS.
Politicians are by nature slightly unhinged.
They have to be - it's obvious.
What is the meaning of 'normal' anyway?
Imagine a politician who is a conformist...haha. It wouldn't work! It makes no sense.
I think Humphrys was attempting irony Iain. The point being that few human beings, including politicians, rush to acknowledge their mistakes. Clearly the attempt failed.
"The challenge for politicians is to demonstrate that actually, they do lead similar lives to the rest of the population and do not live in ivory towers."
Really? Are there any front bench spokespeople for Labour or the Conservatives who aren't rich? If you've been allowed to put the mortgage payments on a London home on expenses and then keep the capital gain over the last decade or longer, wouldn't you say you've been living in an ivory tower? Or if you've been in a job that let you put family members on the payroll? What about if you're paid £61k minimum (ignoring the expenses) for a job that doesn't prevent you holding down other well paid jobs at the same time? Or if you also get an impossibly generous, defined benefit pension? Right or wrong, in what way does this reflect the experience of 99% of the population?
Politicians should be "normal". By that, I mean from the various classes of society, ABCD whatever. There will be Camerons, there will be Prescotts, there will be Majors and Thatchers.
What I do not want to see is what is increasingly evident in New Labour - the separate "political class". These people cut their teeth on student politics at university, climb the greasy pole via the trade unions or as special advisors, and often end up parachuted into safe seats or even peerages.
That is when politicians become out of touch. And that is the political class that increasingly looks after its own.
I don't care if they're "normal" or not, whatever that means. But I do get hacked off when they show such a complete inability to admit their own failings and then bemoan the low public esteem in which they're held.
You try and explain this to them, but it's like banging your head against a brick wall.
Nothing to do with your own political aspirations then Iain?
The majority of politicians haven't got a clue about the real world and have a career in politics. They follow the whip, 12 at a time sit in the House listening to speeches.
It isn't your view that after 10 years they lose touch, it's the accepted view. A generation of MPs come through taht have no real idea of not being in power and act accordingly.
http://www.boatangdemetriou.com/
What on earth has this got to do with any political aspirations I may or may not have?!
"Not normal", if single handedly, wrecked the economy, destroyed a country, is in total denial, and has the attributes of a psychopath. Then Humphreys is correct McDoom is not normal.
The truth is this: a) there are no such things as "ordinary people" because everyone is distinct; b) politicians are as a group distinct in the same way as other groups are distinct, because of the way they have to relate to other people; c) if anyone else was in the same position of having to relate to people as a politician was, they would behave the exact same way as a politician behaves.
John Humphrys should be ashamed of himself for coming out with this unthinking piece of rubbish (among many other things). Does he think a broadcaster earning hundreds of thousands each year is a normal person by the same standards?
What Oscar India said. Some people confuse rewards with the intention to seek rewards. I'd say that the majority of our politicians are in politics becasue, rightly or wrongly, they beleieve they can make a positive contribution to the nation;because they believe in service. We can all think of examples where that might not be the case but such examples are in the minority.
Margaret Thatcher has made a fortune since leaving office. Is that why she went into politics - to make a fortune at the end of her premiership?
I really don't think so.
5 minutes over at my place or Guidos will tell them all they need to know
Why do you think so many blogging MP's voted to hide ther addresses?
Labour's present problems are the same ones that they have always had - they've been been found out. And for perennial reason. Complete fiscal and economic incompetence. What they are doing about it is the same as always - rushing about trying to blame everyone but themselves, but especially 'the markets' whom they persist in thinking are some abstract group over there, but are in fact all of us, deciding that we've had enough of the wastefulness and proto-totalitarianism and fiscal incontinence that always accompanies Labour (socialist) administrations. It matters not a jot whether they have become 'out of touch' now as in a sense they always are.
It's just that this lot is the most deceitful, appallingly self serving and duplicitous crew, ever.
Well, OH, why do I think so many blogging MP's voted to hide ther addresses? Because of people like you who threaten to crap in their front gardens, I guess.
I notice you took a different approach when it was your identity being disclosed.
I think the leaders of the nation should be exceptional.
Those who vote on whether to agree to what they propose should be a cross section of society.
I believe the problem with politicians is not that most are too representative, simply that those that reach high places don't have the talent.
Dunno strictly how relevant this is to politicians & normalcy, but a Harvard Business School study this week claimed that there's a direction correlation between holding conservative social views & propensity to consume online porn.
http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=526931
Previously I had thought that I was quite liberal in my views, but since I occasionally like looking at sites with ladies with no clothes on then I guess I must be right-wing really.
You're wrong Iain
The three Newham MPs have become very different animals since joining the Westminster village.
I'm remenided of a Reagan Administration nominee who was charged at his Senate Hearing with being mediocre. His reply was that 'Mediocre Americans deserve to be represented in government'.
Er, maybe, but best not.
wv: inguin
How it know?
Of course politicians aren’t “normal” Have you got to the ripe old age of - what? And not discovered that.
It takes a very peculiar personality type to be a politician. A more abnormal bunch, it would be hard to find.
I don’t think any man in the street thinks they’re normal or expects them to be. Certainly said man in the street wouldn’t be a politician for love nor money.
“Normal?” Good grief.
Lord Iain of Essex said "The challenge for politicians is to demonstrate that actually, they do lead similar lives to the rest of the population and do not live in ivory towers."
There's more chance of the Pope promoting the use of condoms than there is of that happening!
Labour's problem is that they are dying on their feet: disunited with an expired mandate, no authority and therefore unable to inspire anything other than contempt.
When Cameron returns - and there can't be any rush given the unhappy circumstances that have caused his absence - the country needs to see some real steel from him.
And direction so that people can at least hope there's a viable alternative to fill what is increasingly becoming a power vacuum in Westminster at precisely the time when we need fresh and LEGITIMATE leadership which can command the most precious thing - out of many things - the odious Mr Brown has cost his party and the country: confidence.
No!
Post a Comment