Post #3984928

2026-07-21 11:49 UTC

What I really don’t understand about UK politics is the assignment of politicians to briefs that they have absolutely no work or life experience in. Just two examples. Wes Streeting, now minister for defence (and previously a disastrous health secretary). I’d expect the defence secretary to have had experience within the military, or in some non-parliamentary defence role. But hang on, Streeting studied history at university, has been NUS president and worked on education in charities, and is basically a career politician with a severe lack of exper outside of government. Yvette Cooper, now health and social care secretary. I’d expect a former nurse, dentist, social care worker or doctor to be best placed for this role. But Cooper’s experience is mostly in economics and journalism. What the hell does she know (and her predecessor) about running the health service? This, for me, is the problem. Shuffling career politicians to different briefs with very little real experience in the department they are supposed to run. Would I trust a plumber to take a tooth out? No! So why should I trust these people?

Replies (3)

@rhys@mastodon.rhys.wtf 2026-07-21 12:01

@saxifraga@lgbtqia.space The rationale is that the political roles at the top of each Ministry are a lot less domain-specific than might intuitively be thought. The skillset is largely common between them — boring administrative senior leadership and people management. Domain experience has more importance in some than others — Treasury, Defence, and Health chief among them, I'd say — and it is silly watching people get dragged-and-dropped between them regularly, but I'm not sure it should be required.

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@ChrisMayLA6@mastodon.me.uk 2026-07-21 12:04

@saxifraga@lgbtqia.space The simple explanation is the British cult of the amateur, alongside the modern belief that management is a general skill which can be applied to anything.... these two things have been joined together in our political class for decades & the result(s) as you suggest are pretty clear! (This is why Timpson as Prisons Minister was a greta move, and a major disappointment when he stepped down yesterday)

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@finitebaffle@mas.to 2026-07-21 16:31

@saxifraga@lgbtqia.space this makes me think of the head of a software house I’m familiar with. “I’ve been doing this for a long time, I know what I’m doing” they said as the house’s world burned from mismanagement. Their previous two roles were call center manager and travel agent. The closer to the loop they get, the worse everything became.

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