Fascinating to read a glimpse from the other side of the fence, which very much reinforces my take from the outside. Even the parts I thought might be just me g

Fascinating to read a glimpse from the other side of the fence, which very much reinforces my take from the outside. Even the parts I thought might be just me getting a bit too cynical as I age. :) > Particularly people who study PPE think their opinions matter more than everyone else's This is why I hope for - but don't ever expect - a decline of professional politicians, only concerned with party. A few more ex-army or navy would be against silly wars for good reason, even if young enough to have only seen service in the first Iraq war. Some who have the basics of how tech works, rather than inserting foot when they speak of it. Or actually worked in the NHS or wherever. Even if there's the odd idiot commodity trader that gets through. :) On the left it's also become the home of the privileged, with far fewer who've actually experienced poverty or disadvantage before making policy about it. The back benchers no one knows, who make up many committees are far more likely to have had a fair bit of real life experience. Select committees that often do manage to come up with intelligent recommendations or criticisms. None of whom are ever likely to get into cabinet, as you say, just to toe the party line when whipped.