The eradication of old boy networks in UK politics

Privilege system for privilege people….

Nick Clegg’s social mobility announcement has caused a lot of people to raise their eye brows as the Deputy Prime minister was the very person who was able to get an internship through a family contact – and has been accused of being a hypocrite. Although the acceptance by the Deputy Prime minister that such masonic like system exist presents a very real challenge to thousands of people across the country in trying to secure an internship or a career within politics.
The current financial downturn has created a real stale mate with candidates and employers, with hundreds of people applying for a single role it is a close to impossible task in sifting through every application received and one may come to a conclusion that this tsunami employability environment encourages the idea of going through a friend to get an internship. Although this conclusion is not one that appears to have a solid grounding, and looking through the list of MP’s and their interns most have public school backgrounds and have been able to get into the political position through their family background or someone they know who has influence over the decision making process.

The obvious argument of such a privilege system is that it is unfair and only allows certain types of individual into the political system. While also creating an ambience that the political system is only for the elites of society. The deeper consequence of such elitism or perhaps a form of nepotism has a much deeper effect on society and a detrimental effect on the entire political system. This system of nepotism creates a limited pool of talent working within the political system, which in turn could be the very reason the political system is viewed as being out-dated and stale in its approach. By allowing a diverse range of people to work in the political process would bring fresh thinking on policy and the long needed innovation in the political system – or maybe the reason that elite gateways exist is to prevent any real change in the political power houses?

The real challenge is how to prevent such elite networks to become further infested into the political system but also in other industries. It is audacious for Nick Clegg to announce the Liberal Democrats clamp down on such practices by introducing paid internships with all Liberal Democrat MP’s office. Although how such system is monitored and implemented will determine the success of such policy – and if it’s the elites in the system running the mill in such elite practices such policies would have limited or no effect. What is puzzling is the way an internship application process work – a simple CV and covering letter is sent to the MP’s office directly and decided there and then. This to me appears to be odd as there are no recruitment departments that acts as independent to the process, such as a HR department – it would seem to me a better approach would be to have an independent department which over-see all internship application – an alternative to such costly measures might involving the Hansard Society or similar charitable organisation in the administration of ensuring fair internship application process. Although whether MP’s would be prone to such ‘interferences’ on their turf may present some bitter out cries. Although the complete disappearing of personal contacts to get into positions seems unrealistic but it is a start to accept that such practices exist.