Should good leaders be 'ordinary folk'?

[Chil1234]

Inspired by listening to a documentary about one of our more inspirational prime ministers, Winston Churchill, in which it was stated that his proud boast was that he had 'never visited a shop'. If a man born in a palace & into the aristocracy could capture the hearts of the masses and convinced them to suffer and die for their country... I wondered just how important it is for political leaders to be men/women of the people. Some of the current administration get accused of being 'toffs' - with the implication that this means they are out of touch with reality - but which is more important? That they have good leadership qualities and have the courage to take tough, even unpopular decisions ... or that they 'feel our pain', empathise more than impose, and are nothing much out of the ordinary?

Perhaps that's what worked in Churchill's favour - wartime made him seem selfless, because he was urging people on for a cause that went beyond ordinary politics.

I think that most people know deep down that no politicians are selfless, but they like to think they are not utterly self-serving either.

Yet another impossible set of criteria for the prospective candidates to live up to :)

Interesting thread. Have often wondered this.

bemy, an elected second chamber would be far preferable to a system where the rich can buy seats in the Lords.

(btw, I hold no brief for Terry Leahy, but I gather Tesco has a relatively flat management heirarchy with only six levels between shop floor and boardroom. Would love to hear from a Tesco employee about whether that is true.)

I want them to be good, honourable people who care for the country and all of its people. I want them to have good judgement based on empathy. I don't care if they are exceptional or have two brains or have succeeded in business or been millionaire bankers or anything else. None of those things guarantee that they are a good person of morals who cares for others. They have lots of clever advisers, they need to be able to make the correct judgement call. It doesn't matter if they are posh or poor, as long as they have judgement and empathy. It is for that reason that I am glad that we have David Cameron as our Prime Minister.

Wasn't Norman Tebbit a member of a pilots' union?

I want them to be people of principle and integrity. That's why when I scan the front and opposition benches, I thank heaven that we are in the hands of the Coalition.

edam - agree
i think it will happen in our lifetime

I dunno how old you are but it's a depressing thought that it might well take the rest of my lifespan!

i am 39

Good leader's are those who can inspire others and get the best out of them.

They don't shy away from making unpopular decisions if it is the right thing to do.

They will surround themselves with experts, listen to their advice and make a decision based on that.

One of the most effective managers I have ever worked with had no experience at all within our sector. But she always managed to get the best from her staff and they would walk through fire for her.

A good friend of mine has fired people for being ineffective at their job and such was his "speech", the guy has thanked him for the opportunity (of getting fired!) than be angry at the snub.

For me, Maggie had the courage of her convictions. She definitely was comfortable with making tough choices. Tony Blair was a great people person and people warmed to him and trusted him. El-Gordo did neither. Red-ed is doing neither too. So ultimately he's doomed.

Cameron's making tough decisions but I fear these are out of the fact he has no choice rather than being a strong leader. And Clegg? Well he's screwed. He went back on his word so no-one trusts him anymore so people wouldn't spit on him if he were on fire, let alone walk through it for him.

I would like them to be competent. Everything else is bullshit.

I like the ones in other countries who wear smart army uniforms.

personally i get a bit worried when someone says im one of the people...have you ever read the peoples news paper The Sun...what a load of tosh.

Id be much happier if a politician said, Im very posh, im very well educated, im very loaded, ive got all sorts of fingers in all sorts of pies, ive no idea what lol means and im a politician because thats what im good at.

im working class btw (if my wife asks ...middle) so no im not some posh bloke hopeful of a seat i genuinely dont have a problem with someone admitting what they are and getting on with it.

I want to challenge the air of disdain for 'professional politicians'. Fifty years ago, business management was seen to be something you were born into and which was instinctive rather than learned. A few managers were naturally gifted but the norm was poor, untrained managers making a massive hash of things. The advent of business management schools in the late sixties/early seventies has upped the standard and made it more professional. Managing a country, constituency or government department is arguably more challenging than running a business. Why do we think politicians should be able to operate purely from instinct & conviction and not be trained formally in the role?

I dont mind anyone in a top political or business position as long as they got there on merit and not because of the old school tie or who you know.

Far better if the person started at the very bottom and worked his way up otherwise you end up with someone without empathy.

Cameron tries to give it the "call me Dave" one of the lads impression but he is at heart anther Shire Tory scumbag, I have more respect for Gideon, he is an unfeeling, uncaring cunt and does not try to disguise it.

I don't care about the background of the leaders, what matters to me is what they propose to do. I find it very strange when people start talking about the personal finances of cabinet members which is irrelevant to the governance of the country.

i believe people from 'normal' bog standard unpriviledged backgrounds tend to be more humanist in their approach rather than those who have never seen the poorer side of life (and no volunteering in africa for a year isn't the same).

i'd prefer the world to be a more peaceful place. churchill loved a war didn't he.

Hudd

I find it very strange when people start talking about the personal finances of cabinet members which is irrelevant to the governance of the country.

Easy answer, because they are rich and from privileged backgrounds they will (as they are already doing and as all Tory governments do) run the country predominantly for the benefit of their rich and well connected mates to the detriment of the general populace (as they are doing)

They have already lied and protected the Bankers who caused most of this grief and yet have kept and keep getting their ill gotten gains.

The lie being call me Daves "promise" that no one in a bailed out bank will get a bonus of more than £2600, fucking liar.

Too right volunteering in Africa isn't the same!

I have worked in areas in absolute poverty, also areas suffering the after-effects of conflict. There is nothing in UK even close to how very, very terrible that is.

Chil: it depends on how you see leadership, and whether you see it as a transferrable skill. I do not think it is the same as management. Nor do I think it either necessary or desirable to spend an entire career in politics to develop those skills.

@newwave... as you've said in the past that you earn a very high income and could be described as privileged therefore, does this mean you automatically care little about the poor and solely about the rich?

Chil -

"@newwave... as you've said in the past that you earn a very high income and could be described as privileged therefore, does this mean you automatically care little about the poor and solely about the rich?"

No - because she is 'left wing' affluent. If you hold left of centre political views you automatically and intuitively understand the reality of being poor and disadvantaged - no matter how privileged and remote your life has been - apparently.

Working from home today as I have a tender to complete.

Chil/Jack, we have a joint family income of between £82k and £90k so whilst not being rich we are comfortable and I have admitted that an inheritance paid off our mortgage.

However I was born in London's East End, my parents were a bus driver and a shop worker so we did ok but I did see the effects of poverty on a daily basis, maybe this is why I have more empathy than rich Tory trust fund, offshore tax avoiding scumbags like Gideon, Cameron and Clegg who have never had to struggle or go without.

This is my last post today because if I get caught up on here I will end up working over the weekend to complete this tender which has to be back on Monday so goodbye for now.