Politicians don’t have experience for decisions

From: D Wood, Thorntree Lane, Goole, East Yorkshire.

MICHAEL Meadowcroft tries to justify the almost total lack of any experience outside of politics of our new, predominantly professional politicians (Yorkshire Post, March 5).

He states that our politicians do not need outside experience just good judgement skills, but without experience good judgement is impossible.

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We are told that they get advice and recommendations from specialists and consultants but where this idea comes unstuck is that in this day and age anyone can set themselves up as a consultant, and tell anyone anything if that person hasn’t a clue about the subject.

I was once told that bull dung baffles brains, but as I replied: “Not if the person who you are talking to knows what you are supposed to be talking about it doesn’t.” Sadly this is the case with our current crop of top politicians. There are numerous examples of where politicians who haven’t a clue about the subject they are dealing with have made hugely expensive mistakes.

Mr Meadowcroft does tend to contradict himself towards the end of his letter when he says we need better politics to attract men and women of intellect and ability and these are the people with the experience outside of politics. But the main problem is that it is a closed shop. Messrs Cameron, Clegg, Miliband, Osborne, Balls, Cable, Hague et al are all in the same club. The arrogance of these career politicians knows no bounds; they think that they know better than the rest of us, when in fact they know everything about nothing!

Finally, looking at Ken Clarke’s recent performances, perhaps it might be wise to ban lawyers too from politics! And contrary to Mr Meadowcroft I don’t think Clarke was a very good chancellor – or anything else for that matter.