They've got no business in politics

As I get older, I get more and more mesmerised by the inadequacy of government. I am told that, every year, we work until 6 June for the government, and after that for ourselves, as Westminster takes about 52% of our income to 'run the country'. So I hand over 52% of my income to people to 'run the country' when (I suppose with the odd exception, although I haven't met him or her) I wouldn't employ any of them to run anything for me.

Business people make very bad politicians, and politicians make very bad business people. The least bad method of government - democracy - causes politicians running for power to make promises and to say what people want to hear in order to attract votes. Politics is full of unfulfilled promises. Politics involves spinning and sliding; not taking the blame for anything and seeking credit for everything good regardless of fact; never addressing any issue straight on; and generally behaving in an utterly evasive and tortuous manner, as we hear every morning on Radio 4's Today programme. Because the only thing that matters is to be in power, that end justifies all means - which is hopeless behaviour in business.

Some businessmen are attracted to politics. They start with great promise, and then sputter out like candles in the wind as they fail to do what is expedient. You just cannot 'tell it like it is' if you are to succeed. Being in business requires employing people and getting them to want to work for you (and you cannot sack them like politicians do); it requires selling honest promises, goods and services (not empty promises like politicians do); it requires generating more income than expenditure (not just spending other people's money like politicians do). It is first-class training for life and nobody should be allowed near politics until they have proved an ability in it. That is my solution for improving the current state of politics!