YOU don't have to be crazy to be in the Commons - but it might be a great career move, writes Bill Doult.

Not only that, the sanity of North East Lancashire politicians is in doubt. Perish the thought.

Our parliamentarians are clearly all as balanced as a bubble float - though they may occasionally harbour dark doubts about some of their colleagues.

Doubts about the mental state of some MPs follow a new study suggesting personality profiles of politicians may resemble those of criminal psychopaths.

This disturbing "discovery" was the result of three years research by psychologist Lisa Marshall, of Glasgow's Caledonian University.

She interviewed more than 100 long term prisoners and examined the core characteristics of psychopaths. Psychopathic traits include a high sense of self worth, failing to accept responsibility of actions, having a socially deviant lifestyle, needing constant stimulation, remorselessly using others and being glib.

Surprise, surprise! Ms Marshall found many of society's high flyers displayed just such attributes, particularly some politicians and stockbrokers.

Which is "a load of rubbish" according to Rossendale and Darwen's Labour Member Janet Anderson, who totally dismissed the findings.

She was particularly scathing that the Glaswegian psychologist devoted three years work to reaching her conclusion but never interviewed any politicians. "Frankly I don't think she is in any position to say whether we display any of these characteristics," grumbled Mrs Anderson.

"As far as I know there is no-one in the Commons, not even among the most right-wing Tories, who fits that description.

"I suggest that this woman puts her time to better use in the future," added the Rossendale and Darwen MP.

Details of the research were given to the British Psychological Society's criminological and legal division. It was told that some politicians and stockbrokers could be defined as "successful psychopaths."

Ms Marshall explained that "successful psychopaths" included those with careers with a lot of action and where they had a lot of power.

And she added: "They have to be quite cold and callous. You could say a politician.

"They might be in control and have power. They are risk-takers.

"They have the characteristics of psychopaths but without the criminal intent."

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