Resolving leadership at No. 10

Rishi Sunak is the UK's third prime minister in three months, and the fifth in eight years. Liz Truss only lasted 45 days.

Less than a month ago, Sunak and Truss were the final two in the runoff to replace Boris. Would it have been smarter for the Conservative party to have just chosen Rishi Sunak first?

Perhaps not! We tend to think that leadership is the key factor that determines the health of a nation, or an organisation. Get the right leader, and they will wade through the muck and lead us all into greener pastures.

I suggest history does not always work that way. In short, the British economy is struggling after leaving the European Union and covid. Truss promised tax cuts. This was a popularly received message. But the markets did not respond well. The FTSE dived, and the British pound crashed.

Sunak has reversed the promised tax cuts, and the market has recovered. Would it not have been better just to vote in Sunak and never plan tax cuts? With hindsight – Yes. But at the time, there was a popular appetite for financial relief from the rising cost of living. Some people thought they wanted tax cuts, only later to work out it was not the wise choice.

The English Protestant Reformation story is similar. When Henry VIII died, was the UK Protestant or Catholic? Mary Queen of Scots ascended to the throne. She was a brutal Catholic, known as bloody Mary (because of the blood she shed). After a short Catholic monarchy, the UK embraced the Protestant Elizabeth I.

Some leaders in the Bible are also similar. Gideon trusts God and leads Israel to a great victory. His next act as leader is to create a gold garment that Israel worships.

Unfortunately for Liz Truss, some seasons call for and facilitate long-term stable leaders, and other seasons generate short-term transition leaders.