Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
What a sorry lot we’ve got
It’s a tough time to be a leader. And these stressful months are bringing out our very best and exposing the worst of our worst. This week, Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey has been watching his city blow up with violent protests following the death of George Floyd, a black man who pleaded he couldn’t breathe while white police officers restrained him.
After seeing Frey’s calm, considered reaction to President Trump, I knew he was made of the right kind of steel to lead his people through this crisis.
Trump accused him of a “total lack of leadership” and being “very weak”, tweeting either he “get his act together and bring the city under control or I send in the National Guard and get the job done right”.
Frey, in front of a packed press conference, calmly but passionately responded, pointing out that weakness is refusing to take responsibility for your own actions. It is pointing your finger at someone else in a time of crisis.
And he apologised to the black community after footage of the disturbing death went viral.
Police officers involved were sacked and one has been charged with murder. He had failed in “the most basic human sense,” Frey said.
We need leaders like that, ones who are honest and can face uncomfortable truths so we can then trust their decisions.
We need strength – but that does not mean being arrogant or condescending. And Frey is an example of a leader for this new world, just like New Zealand’s PM Jacinda Ardern.
She has not been afraid to show emotion and admit when things have gone wrong.
I remember her crying while publicly apologising to the family of Grace Millane, the 22-year-old Essex woman who was murdered on holiday in Auckland.
Like Frey, she understands her community, she is calm but strong, empathetic yet firm, strong yet approachable and relatable. She shows compassion.
I wish I could say we were in the hands of great, strong leaders.
But the double act of Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings this week has shown exactly what we’re lumped with – a weak pair, who are completely out of touch.
The lack of an apology is what
I can’t let go of.
Cummings has insulted us with his actions and that deserves a basic sorry at the very least – and the PM to acknowledge the mess.
If you do not hold your hands up and admit to your mistakes, people will remember.
Like Frey said, weakness is not taking responsibility for your actions.
Strong leaders are not afraid to show they are human – and humans make mistakes.
It’s how you deal with those mistakes that sets you apart.
It shows what leaders we are lumped with
Love Island star Amy Hart is the theatre world’s unlikely champion. She’s been calling this week for the Government to help struggling performers and musicians who couldn’t be furloughed. Theatres are going to be among the last places to reopen and Amy says the lack of support for the industry shows the PM is treating these occupations as a “paid hobby”. Amy used to work as a BA flight attendant and has also been sticking up for her old workmates who are feeling mugged off, with thousands of jobs at risk. Bravo for using your fame to fight for others, Amy. You’re just my type on paper.