Calamity Corbyn? Why our political leaders fail

This lecture will examine the prospects for current party leaders and consider what kind of leadership might succeed in an unforgiving era.

But what are the chances of political leaders succeeding nowadays? Almost everything leaders do is analysed in detail by a 24 hour media, including where they go on holiday, or even how they eat a bacon sandwich!

Contemporary leaders usually do not last more than a few years in their posts, and all of the main parties have forced leaders out of office: for example, Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative), Tony Blair (Labour) and Charles Kennedy (Lib Dem).

Why might this be? Is it just that recent party leaders, such as Corbyn, lack the skills required or have too many personal failings? Or has the job of party leader become so demanding that few people can impress in the role?

We will examine the prospects for current party leaders and consider what kind of leadership might succeed in an unforgiving era.

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