Leaders need skill, not just principles and strong beliefs

As I write the Labour Party deputy leadership contest has kicked off. In the background is the controversy about Peter Mandelson, and even the position of Keir Starmer.

- David Taylor-Gooby

But I want to focus here on the actual practice of political leadership and what it entails.

A political leader needs a vision, some idea of the direction he or she wants to take things, even if it is just maintaining the status quo. They have to inspire others to follow him.

In other countries and times rulers can impose their will by force, as was often the case in the Roman Empire, where those who commanded successful legions often ended up with the top job, or in more modern societies, where ruthless operators can eliminate opposition and gather support which is dependent on them.

In other societies, leaders can rely on patronage, effectively bribing people to support them.

‘A system of patronage operated in this country in the 18th and 19th century, but in our modern situation, a leader must command a majority in their party, and therefore parliament.

In a society with mass and social media, a leader has to command the respect of the wider public too. To put it simply, a leader has to “have something about him or her’

‘The focus at the moment is on the Labour Party. It has always aspired to be a party which involved its members, in contrast to the old Tory and Whig Parties which were run by aristocrats with large country houses in which to have meetings.

The Labour Party followed the structure of the Methodist Church, with an annual conference, and leaders supposedly accountable to the members.