#YEAR12PROBLEMS

What makes a leader?

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that in today’s Britain, we have an ineffective Opposition. The Labour leadership election forced the general public to believe that – like it or not – the Conservatives are the only party fit to govern. The recent by-election confirm it as Labour lost a seat to the Tories.

As a Labour member, I say that with a lump in my throat. Corbyn has a completely lacklustre approach to politics. When he gets passionate, he shouts as if angry. He is the least convincing in pretty much every way. There is no demand of authority and little he says that is listened to by the public – the people who matter in politics.

The leaders within the House of Commons at the moment are appalling – it’s not just Labour (although they are the worst for it). When we look to the iconic Palace of Westminster in all of its grandeur, we expect the people within it to step up to the challenge: to lead. Perhaps the real issue is that this country doesn’t have a strong leader.

Look at it: Thatcher, Churchill and Attlee have been great leaders of Britain. They carved a path and guided the country along it – after all, it’s their job. Being the leader of a political party is not an ordinary job: it comes with a great deal of responsibility as a whole lot of people’s hopes and dreams are on your shoulders. As a result of that, if you can’t lead by example and can’t make difficult decisions for fear of ruining your image, you should resign.

Good leadership is about knowing that you’re the strongest in the pack but also understanding that you’re still a part of it. That goes for any time or leadership role in life: PM or not PM.

If Britain needs one thing, it’s a leader. Not one MP stands out as the right one to guide us through the uncertainty posed by leaving the European Union. Theresa May will simply have to make do while we wait anxiously for the Labour Party to sort themselves out.