Comments on: Lords Reform http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/19/375 Every day the Prime Minister's Spokesman meets a small coterie of political journalists known as 'the lobby' for a topical chat, or 'briefing'. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:48:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: PapaLazzzaru http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/19/375#comment-567 PapaLazzzaru Tue, 23 Mar 2004 20:58:56 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/19/375#comment-567 Good points David - except the last one!!! In my experience, ANYONE and EVERYONE who has become qualified for a position purely on their academic record has made a pigs ear of it, with no exceptions. Another reason why the Governments insistence on the whole country having a degree is complete rubbish; the ones we do have are already worthless. Good points David - except the last one!!! In my experience, ANYONE and EVERYONE who has become qualified for a position purely on their academic record has made a pigs ear of it, with no exceptions. Another reason why the Governments insistence on the whole country having a degree is complete rubbish; the ones we do have are already worthless.

]]> By: David Boothroyd http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/19/375#comment-535 David Boothroyd Mon, 22 Mar 2004 10:34:55 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/19/375#comment-535 Roger, the skills you mention are common to a whole range of occupations. They don't mark a person out as particularly successful. The fact is that over the years, various successful businesspeople have gone into politics and tried to adapt their business skills into political ones, and it has always turned out to be a complete disaster. Remember John Davies? Ross Perot? James Goldsmith? Then look at some successful ministers and you find they have skills from completely different professions. Aneurin Bevan was a Miner. Margaret Thatcher was an industrial chemist turned Barrister. Gordon Brown was a TV journalist. Michael Heseltine was a magazine publisher. Oh, and it's not true that those who have been in politics ever since leaving university make bad Ministers, either. Roger, the skills you mention are common to a whole range of occupations. They don’t mark a person out as particularly successful. The fact is that over the years, various successful businesspeople have gone into politics and tried to adapt their business skills into political ones, and it has always turned out to be a complete disaster. Remember John Davies? Ross Perot? James Goldsmith? Then look at some successful ministers and you find they have skills from completely different professions. Aneurin Bevan was a Miner. Margaret Thatcher was an industrial chemist turned Barrister. Gordon Brown was a TV journalist. Michael Heseltine was a magazine publisher. Oh, and it’s not true that those who have been in politics ever since leaving university make bad Ministers, either.

]]> By: Roger Huffadine http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/19/375#comment-534 Roger Huffadine Sun, 21 Mar 2004 08:17:20 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/19/375#comment-534 ...and there was me thinking that the ability to use incisive thinking and ask the critical questions, having understood the real meaning of information on subjects that are both familiar and unfamiliar, was a skill required by both discipines. Now I understand - the reason people like the PM dont clarify certain issues by asking the obvious questions is because that's not how politicians run countries - thanks for the clarification I shall sleep easier at night. …and there was me thinking that the ability to use incisive thinking and ask the critical questions, having understood the real meaning of information on subjects that are both familiar and unfamiliar, was a skill required by both discipines.
Now I understand - the reason people like the PM dont clarify certain issues by asking the obvious questions is because that’s not how politicians run countries - thanks for the clarification I shall sleep easier at night.

]]> By: PapaLazzzaru http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/19/375#comment-523 PapaLazzzaru Fri, 19 Mar 2004 19:23:25 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/19/375#comment-523 Language, language David! For once I agree with you. I do think there is a very real need for an elected Upper House, especially in these days of inflated executive power, but most definitely NOT the house of Lords as is. If and when this ever does happen, the utmost care should also be taken to ensure that the government has no say in who is elected - I'm sure they would push ahead tomorrow if they could properly influence the election of members to the Upper House. Once again, the whole question of electoral reform is a moot point - a government in power is only ever going to tinker with the system if it thinks the tinkering will enhance their own chances. It has nothing to do with improving the democratic process and everything to do with personal gain, cronyism and vested interests. When Labour say they will look at reform of the polling system I'm sure they'll look long and hard at it - and I'm also sure they'll do nothing about it because I can't conceive of another system of voting in which they will actually be better off. Language, language David! For once I agree with you. I do think there is a very real need for an elected Upper House, especially in these days of inflated executive power, but most definitely NOT the house of Lords as is. If and when this ever does happen, the utmost care should also be taken to ensure that the government has no say in who is elected - I’m sure they would push ahead tomorrow if they could properly influence the election of members to the Upper House. Once again, the whole question of electoral reform is a moot point - a government in power is only ever going to tinker with the system if it thinks the tinkering will enhance their own chances. It has nothing to do with improving the democratic process and everything to do with personal gain, cronyism and vested interests. When Labour say they will look at reform of the polling system I’m sure they’ll look long and hard at it - and I’m also sure they’ll do nothing about it because I can’t conceive of another system of voting in which they will actually be better off.

]]> By: David Boothroyd http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/19/375#comment-521 David Boothroyd Fri, 19 Mar 2004 18:56:12 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/19/375#comment-521 Worked perfectly for generations? No it bloody well hasn't. For one thing the composition was such that the Lords defeated a Labour government whenever it wanted to, but a Conservative government only once in a blue moon. Neither party really took notice of the Lords so it did not really do its job. Oh, and running the country is completely and entirely different from running a manufacturing business. Worked perfectly for generations? No it bloody well hasn’t. For one thing the composition was such that the Lords defeated a Labour government whenever it wanted to, but a Conservative government only once in a blue moon. Neither party really took notice of the Lords so it did not really do its job. Oh, and running the country is completely and entirely different from running a manufacturing business.

]]> By: Roger Huffadine http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/19/375#comment-518 Roger Huffadine Fri, 19 Mar 2004 17:06:46 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/19/375#comment-518 Am I missing a point? Why do we need to reform the Lords? Everything has worked perfectly for generations - is it that the level of common sense shown by their Lordships clashes with the current generation of elected politicians? From what I see, read, hear and experience there cannot be more than a handful of elected politicians who could successfully run a modern manufacturing business, so why are we letting the rest of them run our country? Am I missing a point?

Why do we need to reform the Lords?

Everything has worked perfectly for generations - is it that the level of common sense shown by their Lordships clashes with the current generation of elected politicians?

From what I see, read, hear and experience there cannot be more than a handful of elected politicians who could successfully run a modern manufacturing business, so why are we letting the rest of them run our country?

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