Choosing a leader in a spirit of calm
Last week was one of the most momentous in British politics – in this or any other era. The two major political parties that have governed our nation for most of the past century find themselves in a state of near unprecedented flux. One – Labour – may even be tested to destruction in the days to come. The other is far more stable, but is host to a frantic leadership race. The political temperature is high; the atmosphere febrile. No wonder tempers inside the Palace of Westminster and in the nation beyond are at risk of being lost.
No wonder, either, that in this tumultuous period, the nation can look for stability and reassurance to the Queen. Her Majesty, opening the fifth session of the Scottish Parliament yesterday, correctly described our “increasingly complex and demanding world”. She also, correctly, pointed out that the “hallmark of leadership is ... quiet thinking and contemplation which can enable deeper consideration of how challenges and opportunities can be best addressed”.
We have had precious little quiet thinking and contemplation in the past few days. But with another extraordinary political week almost certainly ahead of us, it is time for us to be reassured that our aspiring leaders have been thinking hard – and now have a plan to show for it.
Events in the Tory race have the potential to unfold with dizzying speed. While it is certainly possible that we will not know who is to be our next prime minister until the deadline of September 2, it is eminently possible that the contest could be settled after the first round of voting this Tuesday. And while, naturally, we need to know above all where each candidate stands on how best to implement the will of those 17 million people who voted for Brexit, it is also vital to recognise that EU negotiations are just one part of a huge, complex portfolio for the incoming PM.
There is precious little time for those who aspire to Downing Street to set out detailed policies on every subject from defence and foreign policy to the economy and the welfare state. But there is time for them to tell us their core principles and motivations. It is refreshing, then, to hear Andrea Leadsom talk, in her interview with The Telegraph today, of the values that drive her politics. We look forward to hearing more such talk from the other candidates in the coming days.