I dunno, how many hedgerows have we lost since the war?
David Blackburn 4:27pm
There’s a tremendous post on the FT's blog, inviting 20 influential public figures to ask questions that they believe incoming MPs should be able to answer. Jim Pickard explains:
It’s brilliant late Friday afternoon stuff - the most esoteric general knowledge test ever. It will come as no surprise to most CoffeeHousers that my standard answer to the vast majority of questions was to scratch my head, screw up my face and say “Hmmm,” as if in the midst of some Kierkegaardian contemplation. In short, I hadn't a clue. I think even Gail Trimble would struggle to answer these questions, and the diverse questions suggest that the public wants the next parliament to be the parliament of paragons and supermen. If we ask too much they can only disappoint, which would be disastrous for our politics.‘But what should we be looking for in the people we elect to run the country? The question of what knowledge and expertise the ideal MP should possess is not much debated. So FT Weekend invited 20 experts in various fields to come up with questions that – in their opinion – any would-be MP should be able to answer. This exercise throws up an obvious problem right away: the areas of knowledge that our questioners address are so disparate that no normal person could reasonably be expected to answer all 20 of the questions.’
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Rhoda Klapp
November 13th, 2009 4:46pm Report this comment"If we ask too much they can only disappoint, which would be disastrous for our politics. "
They do disappoint, it is disastrous, this quiz wouldn't fix it, but a serious method of holding them to account led by a free press who weren't complicit in the disaster might just help.
PAUL GILBOY
November 13th, 2009 5:52pm Report this commentIt’s quite simple! We want 650 conservative MP’s and, anything less will be not good enough.
A liberal democrat party that does not hold either liberal or democratic ideals do not deserve to survive; whilst Labour have kindly committed suicide.
The philosophy, arguments and strategy have been outlined and, nothing less than the utter electoral vanquish of these parties, is acceptable.
The authority of the Crown, the sovereignty of parliament and, the liberty of the people are, the only concepts any new intake need to understand, three self-supporting positions representing the past, present and the future and, non negotiable.
Politics is a pointless exercise unless you want to win.
Hence, the reason why so many of us argued against PR, as it will be irrelevant with only one party left.
Watt Tyler
November 13th, 2009 6:56pm Report this commentRhoda Klapp has it spot on.
The wrong end of the stick is produced by one section of the imbecilic press, and then bitten down onto (like Rimmer's Lemming) by the rest.
2trueblue
November 13th, 2009 8:58pm Report this commentLooking at legislation that has been passed over the past 12yr shows that Labour are the Know Nothing Party. It is ill thought out and would put a law student to shame.
The trouble is there is no real standard that must be met by those who represent us. It is frightening to see the calibre of MPs on lots of levels. The expenses scandal has shown us what sort of standards some MPs have. Now that the solution has been put to them it is inexcusable that they will not 'Shut up and put up'. They just do not get it, they did not behave honourably, and in any other walk of life they would be facing criminal charges.
There should be a standard set.
There is no reason on their present performance that they are worth the £65,000. Roll on the election.
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