COMMENT | How do we choose our MPs?

COMMENT | If you are looking to hire a chief executive officer for your business, you would be very discerning about who you employ. Hiring the wrong person would be disastrous.

You will look very closely at the person’s qualifications, experience, track record, and health before deciding whether he or she is suitable for the job. You will do a background check to see if they have any criminal record or if they are or have been bankrupt and also check on the authenticity of their qualifications. Some people have been known to bluff about their qualifications.

At the job interview, you will screen for whether they have been successful in their career and whether they have the mettle to lead your company. You will weigh their qualifications and character with the job requirements, to see whether he or she fits.

If we exercise this degree of care to employ a CEO, why don’t we do the same for our MPs?