How refreshing to hear one first-time candidate, when asked on one of our election podcasts, turn down an invitation (admittedly only from our interviewer) to lead a States committee, should they be elected.
Once there was an era when a newbie States member would recognise that they needed to learn the ropes. A role on any committee of any significance would be the best that they could aspire to.
In the past decade or so that has changed. Now people with perceived ability – be that perceived by the public or by themselves – believe that they can influence things to such an extent that an immediate leadership role should be inevitable on their election.
And in recent times we’ve seen them elevated. We could say that while none have been disastrous, most haven’t proved as effective as they might have hoped.
The 20-or-so newbies likely to be elected next week would do well to reflect a while on their leadership ambitions. Knowing your subject is one thing. Knowing how to do politics is quite another.
The track record for subject ‘experts’ running committees is not great. And if that sounds like a plea to continue to elect the ‘same-old same-old’, and to perpetuate sterile inactivity, it’s not. But convincing others to secure consensus is a skill. And it’s frequently been proved that it’s not one that comes naturally to all.
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