Jim Callaghan - the last British PM to have served in the armed forces. And a Pompey boy to boot (Image via Wikipedia)
Yesterday we talked about the problem of Prime Minister not having any experience whatsoever of the military. I decided to take a look at the education and early employment of Prime Ministers before they entered politics. It makes for interesting reading:
Anthony Eden – Eton, Oxford (Oriental Languages), Kings Royal Rifle Corps Officer WW1 (Military Cross, Brigade Major)
Harold Macmillan – Eton, Oxford (Classics), Grenadier Guards Officer WW1 (wounded three times), ADC to Governor-General of Canada, junior partner with Macmillan publishers
Alec Douglas Home – Eton, Oxford (Modern History), first class cricketer.
Harold Wilson – Royds Hall Grammar School, Oxford (PPE), economic history lecturer at Oxford, Civil Service (research assistant for William Beveridge during WW2).
Ted Heath – Chatham House Grammar School, Oxford (PPE), Royal Artillery 1941-1946 (Anti-Aircraft, North West Europe), Civil Service.
James Callaghan – Portsmouth Northern Secondary Modern (no Uni), Inland Revenue, Inland Revenue Staff Federation, Lieutenant RN (East Indies, Admiralty).
Margaret Thatcher – Kesteven and Grantham Girls School, Oxford (Chemistry), Research Chemist.
John Major - Rutlish Grammar School (no Uni), Insurance Clerk, London Electricity Board, Banker, London Borough Councillor
Tony Blair - Fettes College, Oxford (Law), Barrister.
Gordon Brown – Kircaldy High School, Edinburgh (History PHD and Rector), Politics lecturer, journalist for Scottish TV, Open University tutor.
David Cameron – Eton, Oxford (PPE), MP’s researcher, Conservative Research Department, Special Advisor to Chancellor of the Exchequer and then the Home Secretary, Special Adviser at Carlton TV.
Interesting stuff indeed. It does appear that in recent years – Blair onwards – politics has become a career in itself, which people aspire to from a young age. Yet is it not fair to say that elected representatives are meant to be just that – one of us, elected to represent us? How can they do that when they have not lived like the rest of us?
It does seem to me that it is more sensible for politicians to have some kind of prior career, and hence experience of the ‘real world’. Even though most PM’s with a previous career were in the main professionals or office workers, its at least more worldly – and grounded – than a few years acting as a lacky for a Minister. The funny thing is, its not new for politicians to have had little of a career – in the Nineteenth Century it was perfectly acceptable for aristocrats and the gentry to enter politics having had no career at all.
How about Prime Ministers and military service? The last British Prime Minister to have served in the military was Jim Callaghan. Going backwards, all post-war Prime Ministers, save Home and Wilson, served in either WW1 or WW2. It is not difficult to imagine that Eden’s and Macmillan’s service on the Western Front must have helped in their political service during WW2. But then again, Eden did make a serious hash of Suez.
When David Cameron was elected, commentators noted that he was the first Old Etonian PM since Alec Douglas Home, something we thought we might never see again. Indeed, it seems that immediately post-war being an Old Etonian was ncessary to be PM. But when will we next have a Prime Minister with a military background? Or even an opposition leader, or senior Cabinet Minister?
Hey, I’d love a US president with military experience, but that either gives us an old fart from Vietnam, one of the few worthwhile leaders from Gulf War 1, or a recent “graduate” of Gulf War 2 (who have more important things to do than mess around in politics). I’d be a lot happier if the President, like your PM, would actually LISTEN to the career military personnel already present. And maybe, just maybe, have some form of military education, even if it’s only playing old Avalon Hill wargames! (Oops – dating myself again!) Maybe that way, 3 wars going on 4 wouldn’t look like such a good idea, especially with domestic unemployment stuck around 9% (not counting all those who have just stopped looking). Oh – sorry – I’m letting common sense get in the way again.
I’m well aware that we probably won’t see the era of mass-mobilisation again, so the chances of many people in society joining up is remote. But if they haven’t actually served in the military, then it would be good if they at least had some understanding of history, or what you might call a ‘learned’ subject.
On the flip side, think of the two most prominent ex-military politicians in the past decade – David Davis and Ian Duncan-Smith… ahem…
I can remember chuckling when Dubya landed a fighter on a Carrier a few years back.
Cameron is a f***ing idiot!
http://www.pprune.org/military-aircrew/455253-ill-talk-you-fight-pm.html
http://www.arrse.co.uk/current-affairs-news-analysis/164836-david-cameron-tells-defence-chiefs-stop-criticising-libya-mission.html
Agreed! I don’t think Cameron should do the talking, as he doesn’t know what he’s talking about on ANY subject, let alone fighting wars. However, lets let the Generals, Air Marshals and Admirals, with 30+ years experience, do the talking based on that experience.
This quote is quite telling actually, in that it exposes what Cameron sees his job as – talking, ie, bullshit.
But bullshit is what his entire career has been.