What now for Leadership?

​Where to start!
 
I actually watched the Parliament Channel last night for the Brexit debate.  I know, that’s a really nerd thing to do but I wanted to see how our ‘leaders’ would act and respond.  Also, let’s be honest there is a certain frisson when watching the drama of these things.

​​It was a real roller coaster of emotions from studied appreciation of narrative skills to outrage at bluster, to fury at the lack of respect shown of the institution and process by the Leader of the House, lounging on the front bench for all intents and purposes as though he were on the chaise longue in his drawing room.

A Lion's Den
It will take a while to digest the myriad of personalities and relationships demonstrated last night and the nuances from that but one thing is clear: the best and the worst of leadership traits and behaviours were demonstrated in the boiling pot that is the House of Commons last night.
 
I wrote before about how the previous Prime Minister was a perfect example of the glass cliff (or glass chasm as I termed it.)  Clearly this Prime Minster has a different strategy.  Whether that’s of his devising or someone else is a moot point but, when analysed, the impression is that it’s a strategy based on obfuscation and deceit.   Where then is his authenticity, a vital ingredient for a successful leader, or is that his authentic self?
 
Following or Leading?
He does have his followers, driven by their own ideology and agenda rather than his leadership skills it would appear.   If he fails will they continue to follow?  Then there were others who refused to follow and took a stand knowing there would be life changing consequences for them.  Another display of leadership: courage in the face of internal disharmony.   The third group of would be leaders showed a different, collegiate approach.
 
You could argue that they all have deeply held beliefs and will use any stratagem to achieve their aims.  What divides them is the manner in which they go about their task however.  Lies, misinformation, duplicitous dealings may be the methodology of some in high office but is that the type of leadership that we truly want?
 
An Institution of Depressives
​It would appear not from a comment by one of the reporters about how the House of Commons now appears to be an institution of depressives.   Weary and with no hope, its members hunker down for the next barrage, desperately waiting for someone who can resurrect the vision, charisma, reasoning and intellect of a bygone age. 
 
Was there ever such a person?  We surely need someone now.