Leaders must learn from Brits with grit
One of the most enduring images of 2018 for me was the leader of the free world walking up the steps to Air Force One with a piece of toilet paper stuck to his shoe.
If ever there was a metaphor for the year in politics, President
Trump’s ascent that day was it.
It could have been any of our politicians, quite frankly. Abuse survivors Andy Woodward, left, Chris Unsworth, Gary Cliffe
and Steve Walters share stories about football coach Barry Bennell on my show Over the years, I’ve got used to listeners and viewers telling me how competed in one of the world’s after decades to speak out and disgusted and disappointed they are toughest races, the 166km Ultratestify against their abuser. with our elected leaders, and 2018 Trail Du Mont Blanc – and breastSophie and those men didn’t give gave those voices extra volume. fed three-month-old son Cormac on up. Neither does Marie Gentles – the The debates are nastier, coarser the way round. principled, firm, kind head of a pupil and there’s a casual hatred in The image of her doing that went referral unit in East London who some of our discourse – from global and on my programme she allowed our cameras into her school. both voters and politicians. said: “When we become mums our Many of her students have been
Despite the plea from self- identity doesn’t change. We excluded from mainstream primathe Queen in her festive shouldn’t have to lose who we were ries yet she refuses to believe they message, I can’t see that before we were mothers.” are “naughty children”, simply that getting any better as we In February football coach and they’ve made poor choices. Marie approach the year of Brexit. serial abuser of young boys, Barry and her staff give them another So who should we be Bennell, was sentenced to 30 years chance – and in most cases, help looking to give us a bit of hope in jail for his crimes. them turn their lives around. for the 12 months ahead? Who Gary Cliffe, Chris Unsworth, Steve Maybe Theresa May, Jeremy will provide some inspiration to Walters and Andy Woodward Corbyn, Nicola Sturgeon, Vince restore our faith in human decency? appeared on my programme to tell Cable and other political leaders
On my daily BBC2 news show I am their horrific stories. could learn from the inspiring people regularly reminded what incredible They could teach any one of us I’ve met this year – having courage, people make up our country. about courage, because that’s what never giving up, showing compasDistance runner Sophie Power it took for them to come forward sion, and doing what’s right and just. Japan’s decision to kill whales for money again is as perplexing as it is horrifying. Only 0.1 per cent of all meat eaten there is from whales, and that’s mainly by the elderly. Japan says the slaughter is cultural and us anti-whaling nations are hypocrites as we are wiping out other species you don’t see on Blue Planet. But whales think, grieve, share, love and have close family bonds – all supposedly “human” qualities. Which is ironic given that it’s us humans with all our qualities that pose the biggest threat to the survival of these beautiful creatures.