Only 27% of current UK MPs previously worked in the private sector, compared to 82% of the workforce. The largest group of MPs come from politics, lobbying, unions, charities or the civil service. A requirement for five years outside experience would change candidate selection and the makeup of Parliament.
A demand to prise MPs out of the Westminster bubble carried the day: Yes won with nearly two votes in three. But the result was less a blank cheque for private-sector credentials than a rebuke to political insulation.
The floor’s most-respected Yes case set the tone: “Westminster is full of people who’ve never done a proper day's graft in their lives.” Another argued that MPs could not judge business without knowing “what it takes to run one”, with career politicians cast as the central problem.
The No side did not defend inexperience so much as challenge the gate. Its sharpest argument said, “Parliament needs the invoice and the form, not a purity test,” while another warned that “In a democracy it's essential that everyone is eligible to stand for office.” The two camps agreed that politics should not be a closed profession, but disagreed over whether private employment was the right test.
That disagreement extended beyond the ballot’s wording: even a No voter said “real world experience outside politics should be mandatory”, while several Yes voters wanted public service, care work, emergency services or other front-line experience counted too. The chamber was therefore more united against careerism than it was in favour of a narrowly private-sector Parliament.
The verdict rewards the demand for lived experience, but leaves the definition of “real world” unresolved.
“Westminster is full of people who’ve never done a proper day's graft in their lives. They go straight from uni to carrying bags for an MP all the while being protected by the Westminster bubble. They should all have to do a five year shift in reality before they're allowed to make the rules for everyone else living in reality.”
YES case · BenL · 4 respects
“While this rule may improve standard of mps i think in this free world it is open to anyone without limitations, of course experience and qualifications must be considered but it shouldn't rule out anyone's right to be an MP. I think parliament is elitest enough.”
NO case · BriskPodium39 · 2 respects
YES
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24 Opinions
My problem with this was the "private sector" part. Surely someone wanting to be in government should have experience of the public sector.
Stop legislating for things we would like to be better and vote for them instead.
We have enough problems with MPs being captured compromised and generally bought and paid for by the private sector
To all those who voted yes what private sector would count? Will you exclude someone who worked serving burgers? Cleaning? If so what proportion of people would you exclude from representing the people. If not why would you exclude someone who, for instance, managed critical government contracts, an education authority or who actually understood how government policy could be implemented. Previous employment history can be scrutinised before you place your vote.
Unless you have worked in the private sector, you have no idea how legislation affects real people. I would set the requirement higher than 5 years. Currently, we have far too many politicians whose only experience is spending other people's money!
I see no good reason to exclude those who have had prior careers in either public or charitable sectors.
Up to a point it’s essential & should be a minimum. More important is a proper education free of bias, political coaching, propaganda narrative forming & the encouragement of well balanced curious self confident young adults. The chances of this happening are as remote as our education system teaching that Hitler was a Socialist, Facism being left wing, Communism killing 100Millions & Climate Change is principally natural & normal.
While I completely agree with the principle the parliament is in a bad shape with career politicians and people who have never done anything outside of government, this is far too arbitrary and would just lead to those same people all doing their time in something barely relevant. Reforming how candidates have to fund themselves and are selected would be better
While this rule may improve standard of mps i think in this free world it is open to anyone without limitations, of course experience and qualifications must be considered but it shouldn't rule out anyone's right to be an MP. I think parliament is elitest enough.
Maybe if they were using their own money for dubious personal irks then maybe would think twice!.