Where are all the Statesmen/Great leaders?

Corbyn was a leader. He’d have managed the pandemic a hell of a lot better than Boris, frankly. Nicola Sturgeon has been impressive as well.

Ed even!

Think the leader of the LDs is ??? Davey.

You beat me to it janeainsworth. Merkel isn't universally popular in Germany, but she leaves people in no doubt when she speaks. She's another scientist, which I guess helps. She's retiring this year and I think she has very big boots to fill.

Not sure Barack Obama was any better than most gone before him. He gave rise to the success of Donald Trump so not sure what to make of that really.
Maybe I just didn’t get the god like worship people gave him. ( still give him ) I found it almost patronising, as if extra praise was given just because he was black. Would people be throwing themselves at his feet if he’d been white? I don’t know. I suppose the Kennedy’s were hero worshipped back in the day.
But back to the point.

I totally agree op.
Who have labour got?
I’d honestly struggle to name 3 people in the labour government - none of them particularly brilliant. Even their leader is weak.
The Tories still have quite a few big names, but the days of personalities like Thatcher seem to be over.
I couldn’t tell you who was leader of the lib dens ( are they even still going? )

Honestly - Nigel Farage is probably one of our biggest names on the world stage. Everyone in Europe certainly knows him,

Have to confess to being narrow in my field of vision here. I was only thinking of UK. Sad really. Certainly admire Mrs Merkel and the NZ lady is worthy of admiration currently.

I was going to say Angela Merkel too Riverwalk.
I hope Kamala Harris will have an opportunity to demonstrate statesmanship in the future.

Angela Merkel stands head and shoulders above most other leaders - think she's standing down this year.

I'm so glad to have this aired. I've been wondering about this a lot recently. In this particular time of our need I have waited for a Phoenix. So far nothing. Each time I hear it suggested that Boris should step down I search for someone to replace him and each time I come up blank. I usually have someone I gently admire lurking somewhere in my shadows. At the moment I can't see a single glimmer of light of any person of any party or persuasion. Worrying. I recently had to quell myself from raining on the parade of all the adulation of our wonderful success with the vaccine and it's distribution so far. Yes, I'm indeed quietly relieved (and a grateful recipient to boot) but I'm more overwhelmed inside by the shame of our death rate and the considerable inadequate decisions along the way. I totally see that it's easy to be wise after the event and these are unprecedented circumstances but some of the inadequacies have been - and still are - seen to be shocking. Such a parcel of incompetencies seems to beggar belief to me and I'm no big thinker.

Barack Obama was good, I agree but where are the good contemporary ones? I doubt Biden will be, somehow. Isn’t there anyone at all in the UK? I don’t know of any. Scott Morrison isn’t a bad PM but he is not what I would call a great leader. As for the Labour opposition in Australia, well least said soonest mended. Appalling lot just negative, nothing positive about them at all. I used to be a Labour voter,too.

I so agree with Jumblygran. Barack Obama stands out by miles even though the crazy American system meant he was unable to achieve everything he wanted to. He, and his lovely family served with dignity. A true statesman.
Today Arden is the only prime minister who seems to hit the right note every single time. She perhaps does not have the gravitas yet (age will sort that) but what a leader!

I would like to have seen how Margaret Thatcher handled the pandemic, if she had been PM at this time.

I think she would have been very hands-on in the press briefings, do not think she would have delegated them to others. And very clear and concise in her pronouncements.

Her scientific background would have stood her in good stead, I imagine.

Agree with you both.
I'm actually a Theresa May fan (she says with surprise) & please, don't beat me. ? As I see it she was a problem to the bullies around her & not scandalous enough for the media.

Barack Obama is statesmanlike, his personality comes across as wise and effective. These people are rare and I don’t think it necessarily means they do a better job of running a country.
What they can do is inspire us in times of difficulty.
Jacinda Arden is one who can do this, we have been blessed to have her as Prime Minister in these days (I an in NZ)
She exudes confidence and kindness. Kindness is perhaps not something which some of the leaders you mentioned Nanna8 had or have in abundance but I think that it balances out some of the less desirable characteristics leaders can have such as arrogance. Leaders have to make difficult and often unpopular decisions so if these are tempered with kindness it must be a good thing.
To my point of not necessarily doing a good job of running the country the Labour government here was voted in on promises to reduce inequality, look after the poor and build much needed housing all of which have proved much more difficult than they thought.
So I guess what I am saying is that an inspirational leader may not necessarily be the person to get things done on a day to day basis.