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This is a great piece (of course) by @chrisdeerin, but I’m very gloomy whether the “brightest and best” have the remotest interest in Holyrood. (1/9)
I’m fortunate to work with a group of incredibly bright people, all committed to making society fairer, more equitable, and more inclusive. But with the odd incredibly committed exception, very few of them see politics as the route to change. (2/9)
I was a teenage political junkie. When I was 13, the two largest posters on my wall were of Alicia Silverstone (hi, fellow kids) and Tony Blair. I used to read Dods cover-to-cover. For most pre-2015 MPs I can still do the BBC Parliament “party, constituency” voiceover. (3/9)
I always believed growing up that politics was the place to drive the change you want to see in the world. But two things changed that, and continue to put young people off: the toxic environment for politicians, and a growing sense that it’s no longer where the action is. (4/9)
If you’re a bright graduate in Scotland today, and you’re interested in the ethics of technology and its potential to drive societal change — do you go into politics, or do you go and work with @ShannonVallor at @UoE_EFI, or with @AdamBalfourLang at @Nesta_Scotland? (5/9)
If you’re interested in wellbeing, social mobility, education and poverty, do you go into politics, or do you go and work with @JimMcCormick16 at @jrf_uk or alisonj_WATSON at @shelterscotland (note: I’m clearly biased on this question)? (6/9)
If you’re interested in how our financial system can bring greater wealth and prosperity to local communities, do you go into politics or do you go and work with @mrsbritzy at RBS? (7/9)
Because all of these roles have the possibility to drive real, substantive change at scale, without exposing yourself and your family to the vitriol that has become an inevitable part of the politician’s lot. (8/9)
So even as someone for whom Tony Blair was a teenage hero, and who still has an LBJ campaign poster above my desk — I cannot fathom why anyone today would want to go into politics. Hoping @kezdugdale might offer a more positive (and infinitely better-informed) view! (9/9)
And of course I failed to link the piece itself: https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/opinion/columnists/chris-deerin/2489842/chris-deerin-high-voltage-jolt-of-personnel-and-policy-would-surely-work-wonders-for-holyrood/">https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/opinio...
