Home News Columnists Ian Robson

Competence is the key

Jan 17 2010 by Ian Robson, Sunday Sun

What happens now? Consider the implications if a top level vacancy comes up and the candidates are reduced to two - one man and one woman - in the interviewing process.

The man has better qualifications but the woman gets it.

Is the council served best by giving the job to the lesser-qualified candidate just to meet some equality targets?

Of course not.

In a similar vein that’s why I can never take some women MPs seriously - because they were selected from an all-women shortlist.

We assume they were the best women for the job but we will never know if they were the best people because male rivals were squeezed out.

Those who hand out the jobs at Newcastle Council should give them to the best qualified candidate irrespective of gender.

Or show a distinct lack of lead in their pencils.

Tri shutting up

AND, speaking of gender, what on earth is a tri-sexual?

Celebrity Big Brother contestant Alex Reid – the one famous for going out with someone famous – came out as a “tri” in a discussion about his sexuality.

I’ve read the definitions and modesty forbids me to explain further.

Suffice to say, I think that Mr Reid may regard himself as a modern man but is really a self-indulgent little boy who needs to grow up.

He may boast he will try anything, but is starting to try the public’s patience.

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