Thursday, March 30, 2006

The Ming Dynasty

So we've had the elections for Liberal Democrat leader, deputy leader and chief whip.

If you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms from internal party elections, go to politicalbetting.com where they are already discussing who will succeed Ming:

Like Tony Blair and David Cameron the top four in the betting have a lot in common:

  • They are all male;
  • They are all white;
  • They all went to public school;
  • They all went to either Oxford or Cambridge.
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7 comments:

  1. Paul Linford30 March, 2006 11:13

    As Mike Smithson as PB himself comments, Clegg's odds are ridiculous at 4/6. What on earth has he done to merit odds-on favouritism at this stage of the game? Okay, so he looks good on telly and writes a good column in the Grauniad. I agree Clegg is a promising guy but this is absurd.

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  2. Andy30 March, 2006 11:21

    He scares the Tories, because they look at him and see themselves - only better.

    How much of a recommendation that is, I'm not sure.

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  3. Tristan30 March, 2006 12:00

    I'm hoping that Ming continues for long enough that things will change anyway.
    If a week is a long time in politics, 6 or 7 years is an eternity...

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  4. Anonymous30 March, 2006 13:09

    There's something wrong with the punters when Oaten has shorter odds than Cable - he's less likely to run, at least.

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  5. James30 March, 2006 19:18

    It really gets a bit dull when the fact that an individual is 1. Male 2. White 3. Went to public school 4. Went to Oxbridge, is treated as an axiomatic 'bad thing'.

    The idea that only a woman can represent women, or only a person from an ethinic minority can truly represent ethnic minorites is just another spin on class warfare dressed up as identity politics.
    Politicians should surely stress that in the main we face political problems through the prism of 'issues' (the environment, transport etc.) rather than through the prism of 'identity' which is divisive and confrontational.

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  6. Anonymous30 March, 2006 19:58

    I think the issue is that white, male, former public school Oxbridge graduates are a small minority in British society but form a majority of mainstream party leaders.

    The problem is not with the individuals tipped for the future leadership but with a culture that makes them, or rather their CVs, favourites.

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  7. Anonymous31 March, 2006 10:19

    Ed Davey? Are you sure? He seems to be smart enough, but comes out as a somewhat geek.

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