This morning's short video has now been published. In it, I note that there are hordes of newly unemployed ex-Tory MPs. They can't all get a job on GB News. So what are they all going to do when after years in parliament, and with contact lists that no one wants, they have no useful skills to offer anyone?
You can view the video here.
The transcript is:
What does an unemployed ex-Tory MP do?
I really don't know the answer to that question.
In a great many cases, just look at them. What a rabble. And they're now all going to be looking for alternative employment.
Well, not all of them. Some got returned, but not many.
And as a consequence, once they've looked at their P 45, shut down their constituency office, their office in Westminster, sacked their staff, they too will be on the dole queue.
And what skills have they got to offer? It's a really interesting point. A few of them, of course, are barristers, or lawyers, or accountants, or doctors.
The vast majority, what are they good for? I really don't know. After a life in Westminster, do you have any really transferable skills that anybody might want?
Unless, of course, they want your contacts book. And most of these people won't have contacts books worth having.
So, welcome to the real world, ex-Tory MPs. You're going to be facing a struggle like the rest of us.
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Thank you and well said, Richard.
I have come across some, working in regulatory policy, and echo.
Readers and Richard may be interested in this blog, written by a former civil servant turned academic, consultant and author: https://aurelien2022.substack.com/p/the-evils-of-professionalism. He often addresses this issue and its impact on government and international affairs. It’s well worth subscribing, along with Naked Capitalism.
Thanks
I have read some articles on politics in my time, but this one is an absolute stunner. Good god it calls it the way it is.
A number of people have said to me, about Commissioners in the EC, they don’t know anything. Well the article gives a good set of reasons why that is.
Superb read, I will circulate.
Thank you, Mike.
He will be delighted.
Thank you, Mike.
Aurelien says thank you and reports some subscriptions.
Thank you Richard, and Colonel Smithers.*
I found that Aurelian piece really heartening, in a disheartening sort of way. I felt when Blair took over Labour and got into power the whole shebang moved from depth to presentationalism. I didn’t vote for Blair because having been a management consultant myself for a few years (after having a real job!! ) he reminded me of some of the empty vessels in sharp suits that I had come across who were also hawking themselves to business and government. My colleague and I did, on occasion, do some projects in our area of sectoral expertise for the then DTI , but kept being asked to change some part of the narrative or conclusions to the reports to fit with the prevailing orthodoxy. There were others who were prepared to so do, but we could not get our heads around being asked to research the facts and then to tailor the response to some desired conclusion. We were left with the sense that we were the oddballs. It’s quite clear now that we were not. We were the early canaries in the coal mines.
If the public had looked for examples of the shift to managerialism, they would have seen John Prescott as the nominal ‘man from working class roots’ , no neatly reprised by Sunak’s elevation of 30p Lee Anderson to the same post. It is gaslighting of the public to a universal extent and shows with just what distain these managerial politicians hold the public as ignorant election fodder.
* I notice since you started contributing to RM blog the word ‘thank you’ appears more often. Thank you CS. 😉
Thank you, Vicky.
Thank you, Vicky.
I had not thought of Anderson reprising the Prescott role, but you are on the money.
Very good – just read it whilst keeping an eye on Wimbledon. My idea of downtime.
My heart effing bleeds for them Richard. I hope a good portion of them end up dependent on social security/insecure low paid employment/having to use the public services they’ve spent 14 years wrecking.
They might learn something.
What have they got to offer?
Inside information, which is why so many ex MPs are offered a seat on the board of ftse companies.
Thank you.
I know what you are getting at, but for most, if not all, especially now, it’s unlikely. They have little to offer and there’s no point alienating the government. It will be the same in France from Sunday.
Richard, I note that your former MP, Lucy Fraser, is amongst the army of the newly Tory unemployed.
More than just a crumb of comfort for you, I hope.
I agree
I admit to telling her I hoped she lost when we met a week ago
Thank you, Richard.
You should have added that, if she’s at a loose end, how about volunteering at a food bank?
🙂
It’s to be sure none of them will be using food banks.
BTW I’m pleased to see Thosten Bell has retained Swansea West. Do we dare to hope a Chancellor in the not too distant future?
I hope not
He is truly terrible
I’d be interested to know why. I’m just reading Thorsten Bell’s book and I do think he understands how the monetary system works.
I have mailed you
Who what party was the winner for Ely and East Cambridgeshire?
https://www.elystandard.co.uk/news/24432364.charlotte-cane-elected-mp-ely-east-cambridgeshire/
Is Thosten Bell a LINO?
Yes
He was CEO of Ed Miliband’s operation
The Resolution Foundation he headed before getting a seat was pure Orange Book (neoliberal) hardcore Liberal Democrat and I put him in that space too.
Thanks for the email. I still think Bell would be better than Reeves. But what about Miatta Fahnbulleh, who I see has taken Harriet Harman’s old seat in Peckham?
She has to learn the ropes
One day, maybe
But not in a Starmer administration
Good. Wretched woman. Another in the long line of Tory anti culture secretaries of state who have done their best to wreck the arts in the UK.
Her last act was to set up a panel of “independent” media experts to review the BBC licence fee. Who were all well known for their dislike of the BBC.
Perhaps they will join Jonathan Ashworth down the Job Centre?
Regards
I was amused at his loss
He will be Lord Ashworth on Monday
Thank you, Richard.
Re Bell: +1.
Re Ashworth: + 1. At least, we are spared his wife. I won’t elaborate, but there are good reasons why I mention. Same with Lucas yesterday.
Worcester City Council has some suitable openings for unemployed ex-Tory MPs.
https://uk.indeed.com/q-dog-bins-jobs.html?vjk=192f6e29b207ef27
As Nelson Muntz would say “Ha Ha!”.