Why our politicians could learn a thing from Geraint and others

GERAINT Thomas may well look back on his moment of victory in the Tour de France and think: “How do I top that?”

If he has a moment to glance at the news amid his celebrations he might notice that cricket icon’s Imran Khan’s answer to the same question was to try and become Prime Minister of Pakistan. After years of building a personal following in this country of nearly 213 million people, Mr Khan’s party has triumphed at the elections.

This would seem all the more remarkable if a reality TV host with no experience of electoral office hadn’t won the US election in 2016. There is evidence that voters are by no means appalled by the idea of someone who has had an exciting life far away from the political arena getting their name on a ballot.

In fact, at a time when the “political establishment” is a target of suspicion and derision, a life of sporting excellence could prove a major plus.

Mr Thomas has already demonstrated qualities many people would want in a future First Minister. He is extraordinarily self-disciplined, a respected team-player, a fantastic ambassador for Wales and cycling, and he is absolutely tenacious in the pursuit of epic ambitions.

The idea that a Welshman might win the Tour de France once seemed as likely as this nation topping the OECD figures for reading, maths and science (Wales’ children repeatedly lag behind not just the other UK nations but a host of international counterparts). There’s an extraordinary mountain to climb to get Wales up from its position at the bottom of the earnings league table but Mr Thomas knows how to pedal up the most daunting inclines.

Especially at a time when the political groups in the Assembly are in the throes of leadership contests, is there a party that wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to add the race-winner to its ranks?

He is by no means the only Welsh sporting great who could have something powerful to offer the Senedd.

Wales will never forget the excitement that touched every aspect of national life as manager Chris Coleman led his team to the semi-finals of Euro 2016. The play on the pitch was magnificent, but Mr Coleman’s message that it was time to “dare to dream” resonated far beyond the stadia.

There is a sense in Wales that, yes, it really is time to dare to dream, to pursue ambitions that go well beyond inching GDP a fraction of a percent up and instead secure change that will transform the life chances of those in our poorest communities while giving our most talented children every reason to think they can pursue brilliant aspirations in this nation.

Paralympics legend Tanni GreyThompson already has impeccable parliamentary experience, having been a committed member for the House of Lords since 2010. If she could be tempted to pursue a new career in the devolved legislature she would bring deep policy expertise and a reputation as a powerful communicator.

Of course, impressive athletes do not always set legislatures ablaze with excitement.

Ming (now Lord) Campbell was an acclaimed sprinter who represented Great Britain in the 1964 Olympics but his brief time at the helm of the Liberal Democrats was not a golden age for the party. Gold medal-winning Olympian Seb Coe became a Conservative MP in 1992 but the voters of Falmouth and Camborne let him go in 1997; happier times would await as a peer and as the head of the London 2012 organising committee.

Nevertheless, great athletes do not expect to enjoy success without putting in immense effort and learning from the best. They are not afraid of failure, and it could only enrich politics if those with truly transferable skills sought to contribute to our young democracy; after all, we have never had an Assembly election in which even half of the electorate took part. Footballer George Weah – a veteran of clubs as celebrated as Manchester United, Chelsea, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain – took on the greatest challenge of his life when he ran for the presidency of Liberia, a West African nation that suffered catastrophic civil wars. He was elected in December with more than 60% of the vote, and the country’s citizens will hope that just as he rose from a childhood in the slums to footballing glory he will be able to lead Liberia into a new chapter of stability and prosperity.

It is not just sportsmen and women who feel emboldened to stand for some of the top jobs in politics. Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger each cashed in their Hollywood fame to win election as Republicans as Governor of California, and Donald Trump’s victory may have encouraged people from non-traditional backgrounds with an interest in shaping a country’s storyline to run for office.

Cynthia Nixon, famed for her portrayal of Miranda Hobbes in Sex and the City, has shaken up the race for the governorship of New York by challenging the incumbent, Andrew Cuomo, from the left.

In Wales, it is not hard to imagine actor Michael Sheen entering politics – and not just because of his awardwinning portrayals of Tony Blair.

He won UK-wide attention for his scorching 2015 St David’s Day speech in support of the NHS in which he argued it was “no surprise that people feel disengaged with politics” when politicians are “too scared to say what they really mean, when they’re too careful to speak from their hearts, when integrity is too much of a risk”.

Mr Sheen does more than dispense memorable rhetoric. This year he launched the End High Cost Credit Alliance in a personal bid to protect the vulnerable from exploitation.

Day-to-day politics is an endurance test and even the most committed individuals can be worn down by the cycle of committee meetings, debates, surgeries and canvassing. Mr Sheen is already using his share of the limelight to bring important issues out of the shadows, but one day he may decide he is ready to audition for a new role on the frontline of Welsh politics.

Right now, aspiring party leaders are on their own tours of Wales as they seek the votes of the party faithful and try to articulate a winning vision. They could do much worse than take inspiration from our finest actors and athletes who are exemplary citizens blessed with the power to make hearts soar.