Leaders Old and Young
David Cannadine reflects on the merits of youth and age in political leaders, and finds the current set taking their parties into next week's election strikingly young.
David Cannadine reflects on the merits of youth and age in our political leaders and finds the current set taking their parties into next week's election strikingly young.
"It's a curious and unexplained paradox that in earlier times, when life expectancy was much lower than it is today, politicians were generally much older; whereas nowadays, when life expectancy is much greater, it's widely believed, at least in some quarters, that politicians ought to be younger".
Producer: Sheila Cook.
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A Point of View: Is it better to have leaders who are too old or too young?
At the start of this election campaign, none of the leaders of the main British political parties was older than 50. Some political eras favour younger leaders, and some prefer the experience of age - but which is better, asks the historian David Cannadine.
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Broadcasts
- Fri 1 May 2015 20:50Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 FM
- Sun 3 May 2015 08:48Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
Podcast
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A Point of View
A weekly reflection on a topical issue.
