Andrew Marr is not a man who minces his words when it comes to politics and he is not afraid to say what he thinks about the political landscape and the people who play there. Interestingly, in this last week, Marr has come out and said that there should be no politicians under the age of forty.
Speaking at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, the former political editor for the BBC believes that there is a lack of life experience in the current batch of MPs who claim to be running our country and will be battling it out for our votes next year in the 2015 general election.
It seems that Marr is a man after my own heart. The House of Commons is packed with rich, privileged politicians who have no idea what it is like to actually live in the real world.
When did David Cameron, George Osborne and co have to worry about where the next meal was coming from? Or struggle trying to balance work life, home life, and paying the extortionate fees for childcare? The answer is never!!
Now, I am not attacking those who come from money and wealthy families but, to make decisions about everyday life and truly represent those who live in this country, surely a slice of the real world and reality is required?
To say that the current crop of MPs are totally out of touch with the vast majority of people who live in this country is a major understatement - in fact, if we went to the polls tomorrow I wouldn’t vote for any of them as they are all a total waste of space and don‘t represent a single thing that I believe in.
But what is to be done? Well, I agree with Marr on this, it should be made compulsory that they have some other ‘life experience’ before stepping into the political arena. Perhaps not allowing under forties to become a politician is a step too far, but Marr is not entirely wrong.
A slice of the real world is what is needed for our politicians where they have to work their fingers to the bone, scrimp, save and worry like the rest of us. How can they possibly make decisions for the lives of the many in this country if they have no idea what it is like to be in their shoes?
It’s no surprise that the people of this fine country have become so disillusioned with politics in recent years, and the slogan ‘we are all in it together’ could not be further than the truth.
While the majority of the UK have had to struggle these last few years with the recession, pay cuts, pay freezes, job losses, and the cost of living, all we have seen our politicians do is make life even harder for us while the MP expenses scandal did nothing but make our blood boil and highlight just out of touch they really are.
Perhaps I am just getting a little cynical as I get older, but when I look at the big three parties, I don’t see anyone who genuinely wants to help and make things better for everyone who lives in this country.
All they seem to do is squabble amongst themselves and try to score cheap points as the battle for Number 10 is starting to hot up.
Surely, our MPs would have a better chance of winning over the public if they had been in our shoes and experienced just how difficult life is in the real world? How can a politician ever truly represent their constituency, the people of this country and make decisions that will make life easier and better if they have no idea how difficult it is in the first place? The sad truth is, they can’t.
This disillusion that so many have with the major parties in this country at the moment has allowed UKIP to present itself as a party that is a great alternative… however, Nigel Farage has no better understanding of the ‘real world’ that Cameron, Clegg or Miliband.
Over the next few months, we are going to see the political landscape shift but it is unlikely that we are going to see anything change. No matter who wins the general election, we are going to have a Prime Minster who is totally out of touch with the British public.
Tagged in David Cameron