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Climbing the Greasy Pole: Promotion in British Politics
Author(s) -
JONES BILL
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the political quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.373
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1467-923X
pISSN - 0032-3179
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-923x.2010.02132.x
Subject(s) - luck , promotion (chess) , politics , courage , climbing , optimism , subject (documents) , champion , public relations , political science , sociology , law , social psychology , psychology , history , computer science , epistemology , philosophy , archaeology , library science
This article addresses the subject of ministerial promotion and is based on memoirs and interviews. It seeks to discern the essential qualities which motivate political ambition; for example extremes of energy, confidence, optimism and family support. The talent pool for office is held to be worryingly shallow though allowing wider access, via the Lords, has not so far proved a huge success. Deciding upon appointments is also analysed as is the means politicians use to advertise their suitability for office. It concludes that, natural ability notwithstanding, luck and courage are often the chief attributes of success.