What is the gulf between what the current party leaders believe themelves to be and the reality in your view?

sunami 😂 I’m often misunderstood …. !

LemonJam

My thoughts on 4 leaders who gain most media coverage, in no particular order:

1) Badenoch- back story privileged, largely private school educated, engineer. Sees herself as bold, strong and good planner. Reality- often comes across as arrogant, argumentative, poor listener, not a natural networker. Plans missing until recently. Uninspiring.

2) Starmer- back story working class, state educated, Human Rights lawyer. Sees himself- knows what he stands for, values driven, incisive, decisive, determined, has a plan. Reality- cautious, often changes his mind, others don't always feel they know what he stands for, ruthless, ambitious, determined, makes unforced errors, politically naive, only recently starting to make his values clearer to the electorate. Doesn't see it as his primary role to inspire, rather he seeks to govern responsibly.

3 Ed Davey- I don't really know much about his back story apart from he has a disabled child. Sees himself as values driven, media savvy and wants attention for Liberal Party, good at building presence in local communities. Reality- embarrassing Dad stunts in media, values driven, good at building presence in local communities. Jury swings as to level of inspiration.

4) Nigel Farage- back story privileged, privately educated, finance in the city. Sees himself as a man of the people yet also casts himself as an outsider, a risk taker, a truth teller, anti woke, the change agent with all the answers to current economic and cultural malaise ( as he sees it ). Reality Media savvy/master class level, scapegoat expert, agitator, maverick, career opportunist, excellent networker, ruthless, ambitious, seeks personal financial gain alongside public service, truth bender, opportunistic, thin skinned ( he can dish it out but not take it in return) contrarian. Inspires constant attention- his primary goal.

What an excellent post.
You are a clever woman.

Hi Chaitriona- I'm really no! I'm just fascinated by what our political leaders, of all parties, tell us about themselves, what they're going to do then what happens next..... Take care 😊

Yes, how do we know who they think they are? By the parts/versions of their back stories that they select to reveal?Does Farage ever talk about his dealings with Russia, apart from lying about never having met the Russian ambassador?

Heaven preserve me for what is about to descend on me..

. BRING BACK BORIS

Heaven preserve me from what is about to descend on me

BRING BACK BORIS

Well done LemonJam, I think you’ve summed up the zeitgeist.

I won't 🤯 honest!!

But I will go and have a cup of calming camomile tea!

That was to rowyn

The problem isn't the leaders, it is the parties. Kemi Badenoch is only as good as is possible given the total disarray of the Conservative party, who seem to be unwilling to face up to reality of their total lack of policies or a coherent idea of what the party is meant to be. Sacking Badenoch will only make things worse, not better.

Starmer is the perfect example of the Peter Principle, that you keep promoting an able person until they reach, and then go past the point where they become incompetent. He was a very competent Director of Public Prosecutions. He is a grossly incompetent Prime Minister, and no one will get rid of him.

M0nica

The problem isn't the leaders, it is the parties. Kemi Badenoch is only as good as is possible given the total disarray of the Conservative party, who seem to be unwilling to face up to reality of their total lack of policies or a coherent idea of what the party is meant to be. Sacking Badenoch will only make things worse, not better.

Starmer is the perfect example of the Peter Principle, that you keep promoting an able person until they reach, and then go past the point where they become incompetent. He was a very competent Director of Public Prosecutions. He is a grossly incompetent Prime Minister, and no one will get rid of him.

Good post.

LemonJam

My thoughts on 4 leaders who gain most media coverage, in no particular order:

1) Badenoch- back story privileged, largely private school educated, engineer. Sees herself as bold, strong and good planner. Reality- often comes across as arrogant, argumentative, poor listener, not a natural networker. Plans missing until recently. Uninspiring.

2) Starmer- back story working class, state educated, Human Rights lawyer. Sees himself- knows what he stands for, values driven, incisive, decisive, determined, has a plan. Reality- cautious, often changes his mind, others don't always feel they know what he stands for, ruthless, ambitious, determined, makes unforced errors, politically naive, only recently starting to make his values clearer to the electorate. Doesn't see it as his primary role to inspire, rather he seeks to govern responsibly.

3 Ed Davey- I don't really know much about his back story apart from he has a disabled child. Sees himself as values driven, media savvy and wants attention for Liberal Party, good at building presence in local communities. Reality- embarrassing Dad stunts in media, values driven, good at building presence in local communities. Jury swings as to level of inspiration.

4) Nigel Farage- back story privileged, privately educated, finance in the city. Sees himself as a man of the people yet also casts himself as an outsider, a risk taker, a truth teller, anti woke, the change agent with all the answers to current economic and cultural malaise ( as he sees it ). Reality Media savvy/master class level, scapegoat expert, agitator, maverick, career opportunist, excellent networker, ruthless, ambitious, seeks personal financial gain alongside public service, truth bender, opportunistic, thin skinned ( he can dish it out but not take it in return) contrarian. Inspires constant attention- his primary goal.

I quite agree about Starmer, he's a decent chap who is lousy in front of a camera.

Badenock could start a fight in an empty room.

I like Ed Davey and the lib dems, but I wish they'd say more about. their policies rather than do silly stunts

nanna8

I think Badenoch is the best of the bunch and I wish we had someone like her here. I won’t say what I think of Starmer because it would break obscenity rules.

I feel the same way.

As well as going Ape Shit at the same time.

🦍🦧💣

Great assessment Lemonjam