Mhairi Black: Politics Isn’t for Me ★★★★★

Mhairi Black has packed a lot into her short years, not least being the youngest ever sitting MP, at 20, and then resigning before she turned 30. This is despite most definitely creating an impact, not least her barnstorming 2022 House of Commons’ speech on the rise of fascism, which went viral. Black, clearly, should have a lot to say about the business of politics and why she has decided to leave it.

Being able to stand up in the House of Commons and read off a script is one thing. Entertaining an audience, however, is quite something else. But, as it turns out, Black is somewhat of the raconteur. Punting a fine trade in pure dead magic patter and skillfully landing line after line, she turns out to be very fine company indeed.

While one might, not unreasonably, have expected this to have been a PR exercise for Scottish independence, it’s very far from it. Indeed, the first half of Politics Isn’t For Me concentrates on her younger years, her family (especially her brother), and what fired up her interest in politics.

It’s in the second half, after her election, that talk turns to politics in earnest. But, again, this isn’t quite the anti-Tory rant one might have anticipated. They are the butt of many, indeed most, of the jokes, certainly, but they’re never genuinely mean-spirited. (The appearance of Jacob Rees Mogg, in particular, is absolutely hilarious.) Instead, she’s more interested in sharing her incredulity at the absurdities of Westminster life, and how ineffective it is.

The title of the show, with Black relaying why she’s decided to get out of frontline politics, is only really dealt with in the show’s finishing straight. And while it is the only section that could have any charge of ‘point scoring’, it’s not difficult to empathise with her on this.

Despite the title of the show, you get the distinct impression that Black isn’t at all done with politics. Westminster politics, yes. But she clearly has a desire to get people to genuinely engage with, and overcome public apathy to matters that are of great importance to them. Taking this hugely entertaining show to a wider, national audience would be a smart way to start.