Keeping it in the family

The thought that if Hilary becomes President of the Free World, two families will have been 'in charge' for at least a quarter century and potentially three decades is frightening somehow. And I'd bet there will then be a Bush in the wings. During this period the USA will have gone from superpower to basket case, but that's another story.

My grandfather was a Councillor and eventually Mayor of Welwyn Garden City back when local Councillors were independents; you could probably read 'conservative'. My Dad was a Councillor for a few years on St. Alban's District Council , which covered Harpenden where I lived until I came to Hull at 18. My Dad was a life long Tory, though during what turned out to be our last conversation before he dropped dead on the street at 61 was that no, Thatcher would never get the poll tax past her back benchers and the cuts she was imposing on councils was really bad for Hertfordshire's high-and-proud -of-it spending on education.

Not quite a dynasty of the same magnitude I grant you.
In fact no comparison at all. Although it does suddenly engender a tiny bit of sympathy for two of the front runners in the race for Labour nomination for East Hull MP. Maybe, and only maybe, its a case of growing up with politics in your genes, as part of all sorts conversations, as the background noise to family life. But I really don't like family dynasties. There used to be several in the Labour group on the Council, now we have some LibDems ones, even a threesome.

But if anybody has bred and is nurturing a young person or persons who relate the issues of the day to any of the traditional party positions, I could do with some lessons. Although I think its too late. And ofcourse, I may never get elected, but if I do, I think this is one dynasty that'll never really take off.