Blears hits out at 'career politicians'

Cabinet minister Hazel Blears has said that a "deeply unhealthy" number of government posts are being handed to career politicians.

In a speech to the Hansard Society the communities secretary said she wants action to encourage the election of a new generation of working class.

Saying some ministerial colleagues live on "planet politics", Blears complained that their lack of real-life experience - as well as a cynical media and political bloggers - have left politics "in trouble".

She said: "There is a trend towards politics being seen as a career move rather than call to public service.

"Increasingly we have seen a 'transmission belt' from university activist, MPs' researcher, think-tank staffer, special adviser, to Member of Parliament and ultimately to the front bench.

"Now, there's nothing wrong with any of those jobs, but it is deeply unhealthy for our political class to be drawn from narrowing social base and range of experience.

"We need people from a range of backgrounds - business, the armed forces, scientists, teachers, the NHS, shopworkers - to make good laws.

"And we need more MPs in Parliament from a wider pool of backgrounds: people who know what it is to worry about the rent collector's knock, or the fear of lay-off, so that the decisions we take reflect the realities people face.

"In short, we need more Dennis Skinners, more David Davises, more David Blunketts in the front line of politics," she will conclude - calling on parties and trade unions to actively recruit them in the same way as they have women and ethnic minorities.

Blears, who had a career as a local government solicitor before becoming an elected politician, also complained about a "spreading corrosive cynicism" in political discussion.

She pointed the finger at political "bloggers" - accusing them of seeing their role as "unearthing scandals, conspiracies and perceived hypocrisy".

"The most popular blogs are right-wing, ranging from the considered Tory views of Iain Dale, to the vicious nihilism of Guido Fawkes," she said, although she concedes the political balance could shift under a Tory government.

"But mostly, political blogs are written by people with disdain for the political system and politicians, who see their function as unearthing scandals, conspiracies and perceived hypocrisy.

"Unless and until political blogging 'adds value' to our political culture, by allowing new and disparate voices, ideas and legitimate protest and challenge, and until the mainstream media reports politics in a calmer, more responsible manner, it will continue to fuel a culture of cynicism and pessimism."