John Major warns that the UK should not continue to change prime ministers. If people can see the change, it will change the atmosphere. “He said that he felt “very deeply” that the unwillingness to have difficult discussions on important issues “demeans political”. “We are in deep trouble” if we don’t get a new generation who values public service to enter politics. Sir John was Conservative Prime Minister from 1990-97 and won the 1992 election with more votes than any British political party had ever received. Three years later, he challenged his rivals to “put it or shut up”. He defeated Tory MP John Redwood by a ballot of his members. Sir Keir, who is rumoured under pressure by rivals such as Angela Rayner, Wes Streeting and others, may do the same. “It’s not a good idea to change prime ministers constantly. I think that a limit of five years is a good idea. I agree with the Americans who only have two terms as president. I think this is reasonable. “ReutersHe said he would not make the “mistake”, of giving advice in public to a Labour Prime Minister, but warned that the job of PM is “undoubtedly becoming harder”, partly because of social media. Sir John warned that leaders are avoiding taking action on the ageing population, healthcare costs, and pensions. “Tough luck, chaps””All they’re doing is telling my children, your children, and their grandchildren, ‘toughluck chaps, not only are we going to leave you a difficult economic situation with too many elderly people that you cannot afford to care for but we are also going to leave you climate change that we could have fixed for you, but didn’t. “I believe that the first responsibility of any government is to leave a better legacy for the next generation. This is not being done. “The younger generation inherits a world that is more difficult and less favourable than mine. “He warned that governments have “lost the ability to say no” when voters demand ever more public expenditure. “They say that if you do this, you will lose votes. Really? When you’re putting forward a policy which will… ease their children’s and grandchildren’s lives? Are we so egocentric that we cannot take in this message? I don’t think so. “It’s a game show. You are not there to just provide fodder for media and to project your career. You are there to solve problems that ordinary people elect you to handle. Sir John also criticised the increasing number of professional politicians across all parties. He said that Labour MPs used be “people who were without money, without privileges, working class people, who really knew their constituencies”, but now they are “much younger, much more educated, and, in my opinion, much less close to [their constituents] than their predecessors”. “And you can clearly see the Conservatives, where are all the businessmen?” Where are the soldiers? “Where are those who would have been an integral part of the party during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s? There are very few Conservatives on the benches today. “Sir John was the last prime Minister to not attend university. He was inspired to enter the political world after a chance encounter with Marcus Lipton at the age 13 when he arranged for a visit to Parliament. He hopes that others will still be willing. “I would tell young people that we need them in politics. We are in deep trouble if all the talent in the country is focused on how to earn more money and how to avoid public service because I hate the idea. Major warns that US isolation is a threat to global democracy. Nearly a million 16-24-year-olds are not in education or employment.
