Military experience in military leaders
Oliver complains about the lack of military experience amongst ministers and officials in the Ministry of Defence, which got me thinking about the narrower point of who was the last Defence Minister to have direct military experience. Wikipedia's list suggests it was John Nott, who to be honest was not a great success in the role, but it might have been someone like Tom King with military service. Unless I've missed someone obvious.The last Prime Minister was presumably Jim Callaghan. Somewhat related to this point, for all those interested in the history of the Conservative Party, there is a good resource under development here. I am eagerly awaiting the entries for Stanley Baldwin and Neville Chamberlain so I can learn to tell them apart.
Update: In terms of relevant experience it is nothing new to have none. Apparently when Selwyn Lloyd was appointed second in charge at the Foreign Office, Lloyd objected that 'I've never been to any foreign country, I don't speak any foreign languages, I don't like foreigners,' to which Churchill replied: 'Young man, these all seem to me to be positive advantages' (from the LBR)
posted by Matthew @ 9/04/2006 04:35:00 PM
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