Mandy's back! (Brit politics)

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by DanaC

snip~
Not that there's anything wrong with being a 19 year old student and not knowing where you stand politically, or not knowing enough about the parties to make informed decisions, but surely if you're interested in politics enough to consider it a career, you've got some kind of clue where you stand? ~snip

There were probably there to find out if politics was better than working for a living.

[DanaC]

*chuckles*

touche :P

The strange thing is, having dipped my toe into that murkiest of pools, I can tell you that most politicians never stop working. Even the long holiday during Summer recess isn't actually a holiday. The House doesn't sit, but they all have constituency offices.

Our local MP routinely works an 80 hour week. The only time she can totally switch off is if she's out of the country for a couple of weeks. yet I constantly see letters in the local rag talking about her as being lazy, typical politician, self-interested, raking in the money and doing nothing for it. She's one of the hardest working people I have ever met, gets well-paid, but isn't wealthy, lives in a very ordinary two bedroomed house and takes two foreign holidays a year.

She's one of the better constituency MPs, but she's not so unusual. I know many MPs who work ridiculous hours.

Public perceptions of the politician's life and the reality for most MPs are two vastly different things.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by DanaC

Public perceptions of the politician's life and the reality for most MPs are two vastly different things.

You and I know that... a politician is always at risk of being stopped and questioned (or harangued), by anyone, at anytime, anywhere. Plus, they get really nervous when people stop questioning them, so they can't win.

I was only implying these kids don't know, and could have been there to investigate.