Poor leaders. Poor leaders of liberal democracies. They don’t get no respect.
While I’ve been writing about this for years, it struck me again today, as I was listening to The Economist podcast which had a segment about Liz Truss. It’s impossible to argue that she, the fledgling Prime Minister of Great Britain, has performed well. She has not. However, the Economist pundit who was the expert took it a step further. He claimed that even now, just weeks after she took office (September 6th), her “political and economic credibility” were “shot.” “Shot” as in she had none left, not even a smidgeon.
To be clear, this was just one man’s opinion. Obviously there are others who hold different views. But The Economist is among the most respected of all British publications. Its experts are taken seriously even when the implication is dire – that soon after Truss moved into 10 Downing Street she better prepare to move out.
The point of this piece is not, however, about how failed a leader already is the Prime Minister. It’s the historical trajectory to which I point. The following late 20th and early 21st sequence speaks for itself. In order, beginning in 1979.
- Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for approximately eleven years.
- John Major was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for approximately seven years.
- Tony Blair was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for approximately ten years.
- Gordon Brown was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for approximately three years.
- David Cameron was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for approximately 6 years.
- Theresa May was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for approximately three years.
- Boris Johnson was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for approximately two years.
- Liz Truss has been Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for approximately one month – but already her credibility is “shot” and already her poll numbers are mortifying. Hard to lead in such a circumstance. Or is it impossible?