Is there a lack of leadership in UK politics?

There’s a breed of voter in UK politics that chooses an individual leader rather than their party. That breed is slowly dying.

In an age where many struggle to select a party to vote for, leadership options are even thinner. At this moment in time, there seems to be more negatives to each side than positives, and no one appears capable of solving this pressing issue. There’s a distinct lack of charisma, long-term direction and ability to unify. Yes, Starmer’s conference speech was a success, yet it still feels like Burnham and his own MPs are breathing down his neck. In an era where the Tories appear stranded, unsure on where they stand, Badenoch has only created more questions and less answers- perhaps there would be more speculation surrounding her future if a viable candidate appeared readied.

Even Davey’s future may be in doubt. Of course, his bungee-jumps and jet-skiing raised a notoriously poor Lib Dem media profile, however there’s now a lack of seriousness surrounding the party. That leaves Nigel Farage. Arguably UK politics’ most popular and best leader at present is a man who became an MP eighth time lucky. A man accused of being a racist, who has harnessed immigration and populist rhetoric to ascend the political ladder. Love him or loathe him, Farage has done something Starmer and Badenoch have failed to do- unite their followers. Nonetheless, the Reform leader’s immigration focus and populist nature may have masked fundamental flaws that could be uncovered as prime minister. Farage can certainly walk the walk, but can he talk the talk?

If I’m going to bemoan the lack of leadership in UK politics, then I simply have to look at what a good prime minister truly is. Starmer and Sunak were accused of being boring in the 2024 campaign, and they do indeed lack a certain type of charisma that can grip, unite and drive a population. Lloyd George’s energetic dynamism and Churchill’s inspiring public speaking skills propelled Britain through some of its darkest hours, whilst a huge part of Blair’s success was his unique presence and air.

A prime minister should represent their MPs, members and followers with a well-rounded set of ideas, based on public opinion. Their aims should reciprocate those of their backbenches; however, they shouldn’t necessarily be pushed round by their politicians. The PM certainly shouldn’t shy away from expressing their own opinion, as it greatly aids the long-term direction of the nation. Love her or hate her, Thatcher would not have been as successful without her dead-set ideas on free-market and small-state.

Some of the greatest PMs have defined their ideologies and revolutionised the UK. Attlee not only played a huge role in creating modern-day Labour, but also rebuilt Britain from its WW2 ruins with the creation of the Welfare State. Disraeli changed the Conservatives forever with his fixation on social reform, conceiving Tory democracy. The ideal UK prime minister represent themselves, their party and their nation well.

It’s not an overstatement to say that our current PM, Keir Starmer, is not quite hitting those heights at present. Just sixteen months in, recent polls are suggesting that only 13% of voters are satisfied with the Labour leader- more than half of those within his own party don’t want him as their next PM candidate. We know he lacks a charismatic personality, however Starmer came in with a clear vision for the UK, but appeared to lose it after just one sleep in No. 10. Big decisions have almost always ended up in arduous, yet swift U-turns, led by his own MPs. The welfare reforms in particular highlighted that Starmer may not be a true leader, and instead, a puppet controlled by his backbenches. His over-cautious, risk-adverse style has mixed with a general lack of clarity.

The Conservative party has seen a dramatic, rapid fall from grace, and Badenoch has done little to plug the giant, gaping, leaking hole. Her emergence has not only failed to answer questions swirling around the party, but it has added to them. She chose not to implement clear policy quickly, creating a void for Reform to fill with relative ease. Badenoch allegedly “hates doing the media”, and her lack of diplomacy, as well as an abrasive, confrontational style is causing some Tories to think that she is one of their many problems.

For some, Farage is the messiah of British politics. For others, he’s an ignorant racist, driving a movement of division. Despite this, most wouldn’t deny that he’s an extremely skilled communicator- he’s managed to encapsulate many minds amongst British public. The question lies on whether this translates to being a successful leader, as he’s done little to prove that it does. Farage may understand the issues facing Britain, but is his populist, hard-line nature masking the fact that he can’t actually solve them?

All being said, Starmer’s work has been semi cut out for him- PM performance this century is alarmingly dreadful. You could quite rightfully assume that three terms equals three or less leaders, but for the Tories, it means five. Public trust in our prime ministers has been brutally eroded over the last twenty-five tears, as a result of numerous scandals, including the Iraq War, 2009 Expenses Scandal, and infamous “Partygate”. Constant turnover has rocked the authority of the government- Sunak’s potential will always be a mystery after being thrown in at the deep end, but Truss’ car crash reign was more like a lorry in flames.

The populist response to immigration has shaken the conventional parties. This is a moment in time where the United Kingdom needs one of its great leaders to step up and take charge, yet instead we are left with incompetence and lack of confidence.

Keir Starmer was correct with his verdict that the UK is at a crossroads. The problem lies with the fact that no one appears ready to pick a direction, and lead this great country down an inevitably rocky pathway.

Thanks for reading my latest blog post on Your World Explored by me, Lewis Defraine. Feel free to offer your support, or even constructive criticism in the comments section below. A like would be greatly appreciated, and if you’d like to receive more articles from Your World Explored, you can also subscribe. Also, you can take part in the poll down below.