The Top 10: Literary characters to whom politicians are often compared

This one was started by The G-Man, who said: “Politicians’ dispositions being constantly compared to literary characters is tedious. The Eeyore comparison is the most weary. Like he’s the only character in literary history to be a pessimist.” Especially because, as Robert Wright has pointed out, Eeyore, “the most deeply contented animal roaming the Hundred Acre Wood”, is more complicated than that. Anyway, here are 10 more.

1. Mr Micawber, the clerk in David Copperfield who always believes “something will turn up”. His first name is Wilkins, if you ever need that for a pub quiz. Other common Charles Dickens characters include Ebenezer Scrooge and Uriah Heep (Mark Solomons).

2. Walter Mitty. From the James Thurber short story, “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”, 1939. The second of The G-Man’s nominations.

3. Pollyanna. From the orphan in Eleanor H Porter’s 1913 book of that name, who finds something to be glad about in every situation.

4. Dracula. There is a rich history of putting him in charge of the blood bank, as Graham Kirby said. Eric Varley, the Labour MP, seems to have started it in 1981, by saying, of the appointment of Norman Tebbit as employment secretary: “It is like appointing Dracula to treat a patient suffering from acute anaemia.”

5. Dr Pangloss. The pedantic and relentlessly optimistic professor in Voltaire’s novel who is Candide’s mentor. Nominated by Craig Winneker and Peter Warner.

6. Mr Pooter. Paddy Ashdown compared John Major to Charles Pooter, self-important keeper of The Diary of a Nobody, 1892. Thanks to Graham Kirby and Don Brown.

7. Roderick Spode, the fascist from PG Wodehouse’s novels, recently deployed by Nicholas Soames as an affectionate nickname for fellow Conservative MP Owen Paterson. Nominated by Della Mirandola.

8. King Midas, who usually features in inverted form, in that everything he touches turns to dross. An irritating cliche nominated by John Peters, because the point of the Midas story is that his greed for gold is a curse that kills him.

9. Kenneth Widmerpool. The despised character in Anthony Powell’s A Dance to the Music of Time who becomes increasingly successful and powerful. From John Peters and ND Duffy.

10. Robin Hood is pretty common on budget day, as Graham Kirby pointed out.

An honourable mention for Martin Bacon, who asked if the (“largely fictional”) Herod of the New Testament counted as a literary character. No he doesn’t, but the numerous comparisons of Boris Johnson as foreign secretary or Iain Duncan Smith at the Department of Work and Pensions to putting Herod in charge of a playgroup or maternity unit deserve to be noted.

Next week: New English words made in China, such as “circusee”, meaning onlooker.

Coming soon: Ridiculous populisms, or “peoplesisms”, after the Morning Star called for a “People’s Boycott” of the European elections.

Your suggestions please, and ideas for future Top 10s, to me on Twitter, or by email to top10@independent.co.uk