Read "What does Jeremy think?"for an apolitical view of the relative strengths of PMs & LOLs from Thatcher onward. He wasn't impressed by Smith. PMs, & LOLs need to be leaders who manage. Neither can be delegated £ the strength of those qualities determines success or failure.
Communication skills are also critical these days. As is ruthlessness. Starmer is weak on the first. It's difficult to think of any major Labour figure since Blair who was the complete package. Of the current crop Streeting is the coming man for my money.
Depends on who’s judging. Communication skills and ruthlessness maybe, but I want people of integrity, with clear leadership skills and some ability to inspire. There are too many arseholes in politics. It’s probably naive in the present day, but first and foremost, I want decent human beings.
The trouble is that we tend to judge people as decent by the way we see them behave. This is fine in most of our experience. I think all of the pantry vols are decent people. It's when people are under pressure that we may see things differently. Leading a country is the most stressful thing.
How do you view lying? Declaring yourself an unapologetic Zionist? Each to their own judgement, but I’m afraid both are red lines for me.
Good chat. Are you walking today? I’m out for a pint soon, so just about to make myself less hideous than usual. See you tomorrow.
Enjoyed it Kenny, thanks. Starting shortly in Hoylake, c. 8 mile circular. Less than usual to meet less ambulatory mates for a pint around 5.
All politicians lie. The cleverer ones do it by omission. It goes with the job if you're in a senior position. Sad, but true. Starmer has never said, as far as I know, "I am an unapologetic Zionist." If he has I'd want to know what he meant by Zionist. Him, not you.
Just sent you something
I always thought I was a decent bloke at work. Those I made redundant or students I excluded, and their parents, thought differently. There weren't queues to do my job.