h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

For politicians wishing to make it as the UK's leader, there can be a no-win situation. Ming Campbell has resigned because he's seen as being too old - at just 66. Tony Blair was 44 when he became Prime Minister, which some people saw as 'young'.

To add a few more examples, Margaret Thatcher was 53 when she became PM, John Major was 47. Our youngest ever PM, William Pitt 'The Younger' was just 24! This raises the question of "What's the right age to lead a political party - or even the country?" In the US, you must be at least 35 years old before you can stand for president, so they have a legally defined minimum age for somebody to run their country, which implies a certain amount of experience.

(Source of PM age info: http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/Page123.asp )

How can Ming Campbell be called "too old"? He's on Facebook, for goodness sake!

Actually, I think Ming suffered discrimination from the way he looked - like a generic older guy. Michael Heseltine, by my reckoning, is 74, but with that head of hair, no-one ever dismissed him just for his age. And wasn't Maggie Thatcher 65 when she resigned? Her age certainly wasn't the main reason she got the chop.

In fact, the more I think about it, the more convinced I am that there's something to it.