Seriously? Have you heard yourselves?

This has been some week for our esteemed political leaders from all parties to show just how antiquated and out of touch with reality and the world we, the normal people, live in they are (BTW, what is 'normal'?.. probably a rant for another day) : 

Diane Abbott caused offence by tweeting about white people loving to play divide and rule - not aware of the rules of that game myself, am I missing something Diane? Oh, sorry, you linked it 'colonialism' didn't you, and then said it was taken out of context... Hang on - you put it in the context, on your own twitter feed, so who exactly is to blame for this one?... Hmmmmmm

David Cameron described heckling by Ed Balls as "like having someone with Tourette's sitting opposite you" - because you would use that analogy wouldn't you? Oh, no? you wouldn't?? Right, no, nor would I actually.

Mr Cameron was describing Prime Ministers Question time in a newspaper interview - you know, that televised and heavily orchestrated event that takes place each week in which the Government and opposition ask pre-agreed questions of the Prime Minister to try to show the nation just how good or bad the Government is... Really Mr Cameron, if you don't know how it works yet, maybe you should reconsider your career?

Ed Miliband of course could not even get a tribute to Bob Holness right - it was "Blockbusters" Ed, not "Blackbusters" – I dread to think what Diane Abbott thought of that gaff...

So what lessons can politicians learn from this? 

Firstly, they should stop tweeting - simple as that, because clearly when not constrained by their parties media and communications teams vetting their every word, they cannot be trusted.

Secondly, they should stick to the script. I am betting that Mr Cameron knew the questions he would be asked by the journalist who interviewed him for the Sunday Telegraph and I am betting he had help in devising answers too - but then he decided to ad lib and add a hint of (inappropriate) jocularity into proceddings and it all went wrong...

Finally, they should learn that in a time when those of us working for both public and privately owned organisations do so within bounds of common decency and respect for our colleagues and the wider community, we expect the same from our politicians. If they fail to live up to that expectation, they should face the same disciplinary measures as we would plus a damn good metaphorical thrashing from the press - after-all, they chose to do the job they do and the consequences of getting it wrong.