If you were a Political Party

[dsr]

Hi dsr, yes, I know MPs are elected. I've used the word "appointed" in reference to the candidates/prospective MPs. I chose "appointed" as to be selected as a candidate for party X in a constituency that has a history of a large majority for party X is a lot like an appointment.

Does it not bother you that there are political family dynasties? We should all be equal and have equal opportunity to be elected an MP. We shouldn't have a greater chance because of who our mother/father/husband/wife etc is (or was).

No, it doesn't really bother me. Was Winston Churchill (the elder!) any worse a politician because his Dad was a not very competent MP?

Besides, if one man has a great opportunity and another man a smaller opportunity, you can't make them equal by giving the first man no opportunity at all. That makes it worse, not better. I agree reducing the reliance on party would be a good thing, but that's something that IMO would have to come from the electorate, not from on high.

[lucs86]

Hi dsr, yes, I know MPs are elected. I've used the word "appointed" in reference to the candidates/prospective MPs. I chose "appointed" as to be selected as a candidate for party X in a constituency that has a history of a large majority for party X is a lot like an appointment.

Does it not bother you that there are political family dynasties? We should all be equal and have equal opportunity to be elected an MP. We shouldn't have a greater chance because of who our mother/father/husband/wife etc is (or was).

I don't like the number of Etonians there are/have been around the top jobs and we'd be better served with a more representative system but I don't think we're that bad. If we became as dynastic as the Americans then there would be a case for doing something about it, but I don't really see it here. If you're good enough, pick your battles and get noticed as an MP you can move up and get top jobs. In America it seems like you need these huge election campaigns behind you so where you've come from and how much money your family can throw at it is a much a bigger thing.

What I would suggest is, tied to moving parliament out of Westminster, sack off the wigs, the flowery titles and all the archaic procedure bullshit, all that rubbish that the Eton education prepares you for. It's farcical in a modern democracy.

[Paul Waine]

I don't like the number of Etonians there are/have been around the top jobs and we'd be better served with a more representative system but I don't think we're that bad. If we became as dynastic as the Americans then there would be a case for doing something about it, but I don't really see it here. If you're good enough, pick your battles and get noticed as an MP you can move up and get top jobs. In America it seems like you need these huge election campaigns behind you so where you've come from and how much money your family can throw at it is a much a bigger thing.

What I would suggest is, tied to moving parliament out of Westminster, sack off the wigs, the flowery titles and all the archaic procedure bullshit, all that rubbish that the Eton education prepares you for. It's farcical in a modern democracy.

So, we are bothered that Donald Trump has his daughter and son-in-law in his cabinet? But, we aren't bothered that there are two Johnson brothers in the current UK cabinet? Or, for political neutrality, there were two Milliband brothers and Mr and Mrs Cooper/Balls in Gordon Brown's cabinet?

Agree, totally on the Etonian stuff and all the parliamentary fancy-dress.

[Falcon]

My policies in no particular order:

- Compulsory power cut for Padiham after 7pm nightly.
- Free Sulley Muntari.
- Championship trophy to be presented at Turf Moor. BHA or NU fans have to travel here.
- Free bottle of Dyche Spirit for everyone who votes for me.
- New contract for George Boyd. In fact, give him a contract for life.
- Give Norwich Cathedral up to the peregrines (as well as any other religious building they wish to have).
- Referendum on whether Rovers should be liquidated.

Vote Falcon

[vinrogue]

I would ask for better information on the state of the NHS so everyone can understand what the real issue is. How many staff earning how much, Surgeons, Doctors, GP's, Nurses and Administrators? How many citizens in Britain now compared to 10 and 20 years ago? How many advances in medical procedures in the last 10 and 20 years. There must be so much about the NHS that we don't know the true cost of from hip replacements, cancer drugs, neurological advances etc etc all need staffing, staff that maybe 20 years ago would not have been required. Replace the blame culture of practically every argument about the NHS with all the facts, then come up with a plan for the NHS to make us all proud of our NHS. I really do think it is time to stop fudging this problem and crack on with sorting it one way or another.

[lucs86]

So, we are bothered that Donald Trump has his daughter and son-in-law in his cabinet? But, we aren't bothered that there are two Johnson brothers in the current UK cabinet? Or, for political neutrality, there were two Milliband brothers and Mr and Mrs Cooper/Balls in Gordon Brown's cabinet?

Agree, totally on the Etonian stuff and all the parliamentary fancy-dress.

The Trump stuff seems pretty crazy to me but I don't really get American politics. Over here all those people have got to have been elected before they're selected for the cabinet right? I think if people have voted you in and you're under the banner of a certain party then that party can give you whatever job they want, it shouldn't make a difference who your parents, siblings or spouse is, seems fair. Of those examples I don't think anyone's got any further than they would have becuase of their family. One Miliband left politics, Cooper and Balls were high profile already and it probably worked against Cooper's leadership bid, definitely in the press anyway. I don't know anything about the other Johnson but I can imagine being Boris' brother is as much of a hindrance in certain quarters as it is help, and in any case, to me, it wouldn't be fair to say to him, "sorry you're not allowed to be an MP, your brother was here first".
I don't think we're close to the campaign funding dynasty system there seems to be in America, our system is better and we should keep it that way. I don't think we've any need to start excluding people from politics because of their family name, it's not that much of a leg up.

[Paul Waine]

The Trump stuff seems pretty crazy to me but I don't really get American politics. Over here all those people have got to have been elected before they're selected for the cabinet right? I think if people have voted you in and you're under the banner of a certain party then that party can give you whatever job they want, it shouldn't make a difference who your parents, siblings or spouse is, seems fair. Of those examples I don't think anyone's got any further than they would have becuase of their family. One Miliband left politics, Cooper and Balls were high profile already and it probably worked against Cooper's leadership bid, definitely in the press anyway. I don't know anything about the other Johnson but I can imagine being Boris' brother is as much of a hindrance in certain quarters as it is help, and in any case, to me, it wouldn't be fair to say to him, "sorry you're not allowed to be an MP, your brother was here first".
I don't think we're close to the campaign funding dynasty system there seems to be in America, our system is better and we should keep it that way. I don't think we've any need to start excluding people from politics because of their family name, it's not that much of a leg up.

Hi lucs86, we might both be misunderstanding each other a little. I was speaking of the selection of a candidate to stand for election to be an MP. I'm pretty sure that anyone who is selected for a constituency that has always had a big majority for the candidate's party is very close to being elected as an MP. I'm sure it's true that often it is the party that people vote for, rather than getting to know the individual candidate - and only after election will the candidate become better known. So, the family advantage comes in the connections that aid selection as a candidate in the first place.

I mentioned three family groups to illustrate my concern - and not because I favour any particular individual within those three families. I believe that there are other married MPs and possibly some that are only on the back benches. My intuition suggests that the married couples meet when they are both new graduates working as political advisors and both their personal relationships and political careers develop from there.

Limiting the possibility for "family advantage" opens up the opportunity for others who don't have a family advantage - and there's a good chance that these others will add greater quality to our political institutions. That's what I'd like to change for the better.

[Mala591]

1. Take steps to reduce UK population - zero NET immigration plus higher taxes on couples who have more than two children.

2. Aim for near zero unemployment - if there isn't enough work for everyone than share it out (max 4 day/32 hour week).

3. Reduce consumption of non-recyclable goods (much higher VAT rate).

4. Reduce university tuition fees to £5000 per year.

5. Subsidise healthy food by putting a tax on junk food.

6. Make private pensions compulsory.

[Falcon]

I like most of your points Mala591, but point 1 wouldn't work long-term. As the average age of the population gets ever-older we need more young people, not less!