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Former PM criticises short-term political culture
Sir John Major has accused modern politicians of treating governance like a "game show" while avoiding difficult decisions on healthcare, pensions and climate change, leaving future generations to pay the price.
Leadership stability key to effective governance
The former Conservative prime minister (1990-1997) argued that frequent changes in leadership undermine long-term policy development, suggesting the UK should consider fixed terms similar to the US presidential system.
"It isn't a good idea to keep changing prime ministers," he stated in interviews with BBC Radio 5 Live and Newsnight. "The fate of individual politicians doesn't matter as much as the development of the right policy."
Social media and careerism eroding public service
Major warned that the growing influence of social media and focus-group politics has made the prime minister's role increasingly challenging, with politicians prioritising media appearances over substantive policy work.
"You're not there just to provide fodder for the media and project your own career. You're there to deal with problems that the ordinary people elect you to do."
Sir John Major
Intergenerational unfairness concerns
The former PM expressed alarm that current leaders are failing to address major long-term challenges, including an ageing population, healthcare costs and climate change.
"All they are doing is saying to my children and your children and their grandchildren 'tough luck chaps'," he said. "We're not only leaving you a difficult economy... we are going to leave you with climate change that we should have put right."
Call for renewed public service ethos
Major criticised the decline of working-class representation in politics, noting that both Labour and Conservative MPs increasingly come from professional political backgrounds rather than diverse occupational backgrounds.
"Where are the businessmen? Where are the soldiers?" he asked, contrasting today's Parliament with the more varied backgrounds of MPs in previous decades.
He urged young people to consider public service, warning that if talented individuals only pursue financial success, "we are in deep doodah."
Historical perspective
The last British prime minister without a university education, Major entered politics after meeting his local MP at age 13. He won the 1992 election with a record number of votes and later faced down internal party challenges in 1995.
