In politics public service comes second to ego and survival

Unlike those vain actors who falsely claim they never read reviews, politicians are obsessed with their public ratings.

- with Joe Riley

Or to be more precise, the durability of their employment.There has always been an abundance of talk about public service, and among more senior, often retired, folk seeking council places of "putting something back" into society.

But believe me, as someone who has worked as a reporter of politics and, in retirement, served as a local councillor, the all-defining common denominator is ego and personal survival.

We should not be that surprised. It’s part of the human condition, and can be extended to all levels of day to day life. If you find that after years of service - and with several years of potential fulfilment to come - that you are working for a business that is starting to fail, the natural inclination is to seek employment elsewhere.

You look for a lifeboat, maybe a fleet of lifeboats. You do not sink out of gratitude for former blessings. We weigh up the opportunities and make what are often difficult choices.