The Independent reports that the number of career politicians is set to soar.
"The survey of 782 prospective parliamentary candidates – 94 per cent of those selected so far, excluding sitting MPs – shows that a greater than ever number are political professionals who have gone directly from university into a political job as an adviser or researcher, and are now in line to enter Parliament. One in three Conservative candidates are employed full time as party functionaries or MPs' advisers despite David Cameron's efforts to recruit more MPs with real-life experience of the world over which they will legislate."
The Independent's Andy McSmith continues:
"The one cheering piece of news for Mr Cameron in the survey compiled by the New Local Government Network think-tank is that 46 per cent of Conservative Party candidates have a business background compared to just 18 per cent of Labour candidates."
Jonathan Isaby listed Tory candidates' business experience last week.
Paul Goodman MP cited the professionalisation of politics as a key reason why he would be leaving the Commons at the next General Election: "Few working business people, lawyers, doctors and, yes, even journalists will long be able to fend off rivals who pledge to be in the House for every hour of the working day to scratch away at the hamster wheel."
Tim Montgomerie