All too human

How much does a prime minister's character matter?

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Readers' comments




I understand that there are major differences between the US President's role and the British Prime Minister's, but when I visited the Ronald Reagan Library in California, one of the displays was his agenda over a 2 week period. It struck me that he spent most of his time meeting and greeting people, and had surprisingly little time remaining for managing his team - never mind running the USA. Maybe we, as voters, should focus more on how good a leader is at selecting the people who are going to be doing the real work?

Black Baron

Its hardly a revelation that Brown has a short temper. The fact that Alastair Darling has revealed that the Prime Minister set his 'attack dogs' on the Chancellor most certainly is though. Moreover why say this now? Well with the Budget coming up Mr Darling may want some wriggle room. Why would he feel he needs that if, as Mr Brown put it, the Chancellor has got every economic decision correct?

If Brown can't trust even his own Chancellor who can he trust?


As many people from different walks of life there are and the greater variety that the electorate may withstand in state democracy, the better. I personally have seen unorthodox success and achievement by people nowhere near the placid spectrum of personality. It shows great courage by Mr Brown that he can balance authoritarianism (Per Se) with ineptitude and persevere in the annals of government.


1 - the solution to the changed role might be less to do with the building (it is hard to believe the Economist is really suggesting this!) than with the role - less centralization, please!

2 - A paranoid tendency to undermine your colleagues not only sounds unendearing - it sounds bad for efficiency. Like or hate his policies Blair handled his, essentially similar, role of PM much better than Brown does.


At a time of world economic difficulties, I would rather have someone running the counrty who does not suffer fools and gets things done; and that should be the concern, is he getting things done, not is he the friendliest employer in the country.



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