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Age before Beauty

I must admit to have been taken aback by the ageism of so many people who have attacked Ming Campbell. Sometimes they overtly say "He is too old", sometimes they are more coded: "it is an image thing". Personally I can only think that it is a symptom of the irrational obsession with youth that everyone seems to deride in others and ignore in themselves. In the US, Ronald Reagan was 70 when he became President for the first time. John McCain- a leading candidate for the 2008 election would be 72 on taking office for the first time. In the UK, Winston Churchill took office for the first time aged 66 and only finally stepped down in 1955 aged 81.

Menzies Campbell is 64. He has been an Olympic Sprinter and Captain of the British Athletics team, He has two university degrees: MA and LLB. He has twice been decorated by HM The Queen- a CBE in 1987 and a Knighthood in 2003. He has been a QC- the most senior level of Legal Advocate since 1982. He has served in the House of Commons with distinction for nearly 20 years. This is a man with the intelligence and knowledge to make a great Prime Minister.

The only "achievement" of David Cameron- apart from his unlikely elevation- has been to be rated the 92th sexiest man by the readers of New Woman . Image obsessed crazies might argue that this is more important in today's politics- my only advice to such shallow immaturities is to grow up and get a real life.

Comments

Laban said…
Without being indelicate, I think the issue may be whether, at his age, he can match the rst of the Front banch in the drinking and libido stakes.

(and well done to Mark Oaten for turning up to vote against the Religious Hatred Bill)
9:31 pm
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