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In praise of… political experience In praise of… political experience
(4 months later)
History provides clear explanations of why Conservative ministers are more likely to have served in government for long periods than their rivals — the Tories have simply won more elections — or why Winston Churchill comes first in the list of long servers — he changed parties, headed a coalition and served to a ripe age. But the most striking thing about the list compiled this week by the Commons Library of ministers who have served 20 years or more in office is that only one of them, Kenneth Clarke, belongs to the modern era. It is more than 41 years since Ted Heath gave Mr Clarke his first government job. He has now notched more than 23 years as a minister, easily surpassing Labour's best: Margaret Beckett on 15. Modern ministerial careers tend to start too early and finish far too soon. But experience matters a lot. Mr Clarke's long innings should be an inspiration to other former ministers, not the anachronism it now threatens to be.History provides clear explanations of why Conservative ministers are more likely to have served in government for long periods than their rivals — the Tories have simply won more elections — or why Winston Churchill comes first in the list of long servers — he changed parties, headed a coalition and served to a ripe age. But the most striking thing about the list compiled this week by the Commons Library of ministers who have served 20 years or more in office is that only one of them, Kenneth Clarke, belongs to the modern era. It is more than 41 years since Ted Heath gave Mr Clarke his first government job. He has now notched more than 23 years as a minister, easily surpassing Labour's best: Margaret Beckett on 15. Modern ministerial careers tend to start too early and finish far too soon. But experience matters a lot. Mr Clarke's long innings should be an inspiration to other former ministers, not the anachronism it now threatens to be.
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