Podcast Summary
MPs' Post-Political Careers: Many former Conservative MPs have secured high-paying jobs after leaving politics, with some earning over £100,000 a year. Examples include Brandon Lewis, Dominic Raab, Liz Truss, Boris Johnson, and Sajid Javid. Criticism has been raised regarding some of these careers due to potential conflicts of interest.
Many former Conservative MPs, including those who lost their seats in the July election, have secured high-paying jobs outside of politics, some worth over £100,000 a year. Notable examples include Brandon Lewis, who took on a role worth £410,000 a year, and Dominic Raab, who is expected to earn £98,600 a year. Others, like Liz Truss, have turned to writing and speaking engagements, while Boris Johnson and Sajid Javid have published books. Some have faced criticism for these post-political careers, particularly those that could be seen as controversial or conflicting with their previous roles as MPs. However, it is common for MPs to have external sources of income, and the scale and nature of these jobs have been a topic of debate ahead of elections.
Former MPs' access to Parliament: Former MPs having parliamentary passes can lead to ethical dilemmas if they're paid for access to ministers. The revolving door between politics and lobbying is a common concern. Special advisors offer ministers political expertise and travel with them, but their demanding jobs result in high turnover rates.
The relationship between former MPs and their access to Parliament after leaving office can raise ethical concerns. While having a parliamentary pass offers benefits such as networking opportunities, it can potentially be abused if former MPs are being paid large sums of money for access to ministers. The "revolving door" phenomenon between politics and lobbying is a common criticism from the public, and it will be a test for the Labour Party to address these concerns. Another key point from the discussion was the role of special advisors in government. They act as political experts and advisors to ministers, providing insights on policy reforms, media relations, and political landscape. Special advisors travel with ministers as they shuffle from department to department due to their close professional bond and the trust they build with their cabinet ministers. However, the job is demanding, and there is a high turnover rate.
Special Advisor role in British politics: A Special Advisor (Spad) in the British political system is a handpicked assistant to a minister, responsible for managing decisions, maintaining relationships, and communicating objectives to department staff, working long hours and dependent on their minister's tenure.
The role of a Special Advisor (Spad) in the British political system is unique and intensive. Unlike in the American system, a minister has little control over who they work with in their department, as civil servants have tenure. Spads are the only people handpicked by the minister, and they take on various roles such as managing decisions, maintaining personal relationships, and communicating the minister's objectives to department staff. The job is intense, with long hours, and the Spad's employment is dependent on their minister's tenure. Additionally, the news of Oasis's reunion in 2025 highlights the nostalgia for the 1990s and the impact of that era's music and politics on a new generation of fans.
Oasis reunion impact: Oasis' potential reunion holds cultural and financial significance due to their connection to the Labour party and Tony Blair during the 'Cool Britannia' era, and their songs becoming part of the national songbook, potentially uniting and healing the British public.
The potential reunion of Oasis, the iconic British band of the 90s, holds significant cultural and financial weight. The band's connection to the Labour party and Tony Blair during the "Cool Britannia" era added to their political and cultural significance. Oasis' popularity transcends their status as a pop band, with their songs becoming part of the national songbook and entering various life moments for the British public. The band's reunion, if it happens, could be the biggest and most impactful of the 90s bands, as they continue to hold a special place in the British cultural landscape. Their music has the power to unite and heal, as seen after the Manchester Arena bombings when the crowd sang "Don't Look Back in Anger" spontaneously.
Politics and Music: Politicians should maintain a prudent distance from music events while leveraging their positive energy to boost morale and hope for the future.
The Oasis reunion tour, with an expected attendance of millions, presents an opportunity for the new Labor government to harness a sense of national optimism. However, politicians need to be careful not to overstep boundaries and appear too eager or insincere in their connection to the music and the artists. The intersection of music and politics is a delicate balance, and politicians must maintain a prudent distance while still leveraging the positive energy that comes with such events. If the government is successful in improving the economy and public services, the Oasis reunion tour could serve as a positive backdrop, boosting morale and hope for the future. But it's essential to remember that politics and music are not the same, and politicians must avoid appearing overly reliant on the music industry for approval or validation.