On my mind

IT’S been fascinating to watch the political performances of our leaders in the Covid crisis.

Each has a different rhetorical style and their personas range from the comatose to the ebullient.

Prime Minister’s question time now is devoid of the menagerie and in the silence the clinical probing of Starmer is obviously getting to the psyche of de Pfeffel. It’s largely been forensic versus fluff, but when the fluff is totally blown away what will be revealed is serious. Of the devolved administrations Welsh leaders, not without their failings (remember ‘Chipgate’?), have generally presented a more considered path at a more cautious speed. Give me a ponder before a press-up and brains before bluster any day.

But it’s pretty bland stuff. What would we give for a bit of Welsh oratory and charisma at this time, or, as Dylan Thomas described, someone with “a beast, an angel and a madman” in them. My lockdown reading last week included Roy Hattersley’s biography of David Lloyd George, probably the most famous Welsh person not born in Wales.

His self-inflicted indiscretions precluded any claim to be angelic despite his championing of Nonconformism; his dogged opposition to the Anglican Church and their tithes would not really have evoked the image of the beast; nor would the Liberal Party have attributed madness to him despite his driving them mad.

Perhaps there is noone like him to behold at present who can bewilder, attract, infuriate with ‘thoughts that breathe and words that burn’ which is what Lloyd George wanted to bequeath. No-one with the same ‘class antagonism’, disdain of aristocrats and plutocrats and a bellicose approach to injustice. If that’s the case I’m with Dylan: “I’d much rather lie in a hot bath reading Agatha Christie and sucking sweets”.

■ Follow Graham on Twitter @GeetDee