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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Why We Get the Wrong Politicians summary
Isabel Hardman
A quick tour of British politics
24 mins
Brief summary
Why We Get the Wrong Politicians by Isabel Hardman delves into the UK's political system to explain why it's failing. With detailed research, Hardman points out the flaws that exist within political parties and proposes ways to make the system work for the people.
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Why We Get the Wrong Politicians
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Key idea 1 of 8
Becoming an MP candidate and running for election are both undemocratic and expensive.
For political analysts, media commentators and switched-on citizens, attention is only focused on a politician once they enter office – as if they popped into existence the morning after a successful election campaign. But to totally understand the UK’s flawed political system and why its citizens are unsatisfied and exasperated with their leaders, it’s worth examining how politicians are selected as candidates for office in the first place.
In the UK, elected politicians on the national level are called Members of Parliament (MPs), who represent a local area, called a constituency. Every political party nominates an MP candidate for each constituency, and local residents vote for their preferred candidate to represent them in the lower house of Parliament, known as the House of Commons. The party with the most MPs in the House of Commons becomes the governing party.
But the way that each party selects their MP candidates is completely undemocratic.
If a would-be Conservative – that is, a Tory – politician wants to become the Party’s MP candidate for Hemel Hempstead, for example, she must persuade a selection panel comprising the area’s local Conservative Party councilors. But these panels are woefully small, rarely numbering more than 250 people.
These people are often overlooked, but they’re responsible for choosing the names on UK ballot papers. What’s more, they’re usually unrepresentative. In 2013, the Local Government Association found that 67 percent of local councilors were male and 96 percent were ethnically white. The average age of these councilors was 60.
And even if you’re selected, the cost of running for election is prohibitively expensive.
Selected candidates must scale back their careers, dedicating their time to trudging rainy streets, knocking on doors and hosting charity events. To gain support from the community, many feel obligated to donate money to funding projects like renovating the local church or buying the school a new minibus. They rack up huge petrol bills traveling around their constituency and shell out on hotels to attend national party conferences. None of this is subsidized by their party.
One survey, conducted by the website ConservativeHome, asked 37 Tory party candidates how much running for election had set them back. The average came in at an exorbitant £34,392.
Auditioning for a job with such a ludicrous financial burden, a job that you’re not even guaranteed to get, deters many people from standing. Worse, it makes it impossible for talented, less well-off individuals to enter government.
The ones that do make it are maligned – but they’re not as bad as we think they are.
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What is Why We Get the Wrong Politicians about?
Why We Get the Wrong Politicians (2018) isn’t merely a damning critique of British lawmakers and government officials. Sure, that’s part of it, but Isabel Hardman’s first book goes further. Expounding the mechanics of Parliament, exposing its injustices and inefficiencies and explaining what can be done to fix it, Hardman’s book is as much about Parliament’s structure and culture as the politicians inside it.
Why We Get the Wrong Politicians Review
Why We Get the Wrong Politicians (2020) is an eye-opening exploration of the flaws in our political system and why it leads to ineffective leaders. Here's why this book is worth diving into:
- With insightful analysis and extensive research, it presents a clear picture of the problems plaguing our political landscape.
- The book delves into the psychology of voters and the tactics politicians use to win elections, shedding light on the underlying reasons behind political decisions.
- Through compelling anecdotes and real-life examples, it brings the issues to life, ensuring that the reader stays engaged throughout.
Best quote from Why We Get the Wrong Politicians
Parliament is an unprofessional place, both in the sense that it is dysfunctional and in that there is no training or membership for MPs.
—Isabel Hardman
Who should read Why We Get the Wrong Politicians?
- Britons seeking valuable information on how their government works
- Politics enthusiasts who need some required reading
- Politicians who require a reality check
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Why We Get the Wrong Politicians FAQs
What is the main message of Why We Get the Wrong Politicians?
The main message of Why We Get the Wrong Politicians is an exploration of the flaws in the political system and how it leads to the election of ineffective leaders.
How long does it take to read Why We Get the Wrong Politicians?
The reading time for Why We Get the Wrong Politicians varies depending on the reader's speed. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Why We Get the Wrong Politicians a good book? Is it worth reading?
Why We Get the Wrong Politicians is worth reading as it sheds light on the shortcomings of our political system and offers insights into how we can bring about positive change.
Who is the author of Why We Get the Wrong Politicians?
The author of Why We Get the Wrong Politicians is Isabel Hardman.
What to read after Why We Get the Wrong Politicians?
If you're wondering what to read next after Why We Get the Wrong Politicians, here are some recommendations we suggest:
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- Free Speech by Jacob Mchangama
- This Blessed Plot by Hugo Young
- The Wealth Money Can't Buy by Robin Sharma
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- Get It Together by Jesse Watters
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