Alan Johnson

[taurus88]

I think a government formed out of some form of postal conglomerate would probably do as good a job as these jokers, to be honest. I think it's far too simplistic a viewpoint to suggest that politics is somehow inter-related with intelligence and academia. In fact, as the number of academics has grown within government, the level of intelligence seems to have decreased proportionally, whilst the quality of politician has plummeted to a level that has hitherto never existed. I certainly wouldn't promote any of my colleagues as potential Members of Parliament, but it would do the country a lot of good to draw upon a variety of different peoples to form a government. It is a long time since the working man had an intelligent, positive and experienced (as in 'been there, done it' experienced) individual representing their views in the hallowed halls of Westminster. I doubt it shall ever happen again - that a working-class individual could ever attain leadership of the country seems ridiculous as I sit here and type these words. But I doubt s/he could do any worse - the current mob are throwing darts at targets and building policy on the luck of whether they hit or miss. If you really think any of these fools know what they are doing, you're blind. They know nothing of the real world and that's why they cannot even begin to learn about politics. Politics is a drama, but you have to strip the drama away and realise that they're all just normal people in it for themselves, as the expenses furore proved.

[dvbuk55]

You probably confuse an MP with a Cabinet Minister. The bog standard MP follows the party line, votes as he's told and listens to his constituents bitch about somebody building an extension. A Cabinet Minister heads a department of Government, a department which is run by civil servants.........he should have a grounding in whichever discipline, having served in that department previously or a relevant degree.

Compared to the Tories, the likes of Alan Johnson are cannon fodder on the front bench.

[DirtyHarry]

Alan Johnson......Gone.........A great loss to British politics............My arse!

But, he'll be back........Money's too feckin' good, considering what little he has to do for it. I mean, how hard is it to shaft the British working man/woman? Hard enough to break sweat? Like feck, it is.

[DGP1]

His wife obviously likes a man in uniform

[viking]

Not sure if he knows but ive heard that there is a 20 hour bag carrier position at our delivery office, its worth a try Alan!

[dvbuk55]

Not sure if he knows but ive heard that there is a 20 hour bag carrier position at our delivery office, its worth a try Alan!

I think he's had enough of carrying a bag.

[bexhil palace]

As someone once said(I don't know who) The people best qualified to run the country, are to busy cutt ing hair, and driving taxis.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

As someone once said(I don't know who) The people best qualified to run the country, are to busy cutt ing hair, and driving taxis.

George Burns - and he was right

[dvbuk55]

Well it's a romantic notion right enough, but a million miles from the truth.

In some respects he is right, those MPs who came from a normal background are "barbers and taxi drivers" but have been politically active...........and therefore elected.............but running the country.......no.

[fishtank]

Politicians don't run the country anyway...they are only the public face and very few of them have the qualifications or experience to sit down and come up with a workable policy.
There is a massive behind the scenes organisation which decides everything from foreign policy,tax policy,education policy...even the privatisation of Royal Mail.
Politicians just rubber stamp these policies and take the credit...or the fall.
The idea that Allan Johnson wasn't up to being Shadow Chancellor is laughable.
George Osbourne has a degree in modern history.

[plainpat]

As someone once said(I don't know who) The people best qualified to run the country, are to busy cutt ing hair, and driving taxis.

Or, these days, posting on internet forums

[Lounge Lizard]

His wife obviously likes a man in uniform

Yes, and sadly it all went wrong after Alan handed in his Royal Mail uniform.