Is David Cameron an authentic leader?
8 May 2015 by Catherine Holdsworth in Authentic leadership, Business and finance, Current events
All across Britain this morning, we woke to the sounds not of ‘hung parliament’, but of ‘overwhelming majority’. Who would have thought it only a week ago that the Conservative party would not only win the election but do so in such a convincing fashion? Only a few days ago, Nick Clegg was telling anyone that would listen that David Cameron did not believe his party would win outright.
Today’s result marks a startling contrast to the kerfuffle of the 2010 election, where parties were at a stalemate and desperately scrambling to make friends and form a coalition, today Cameron stands tall and accepts his victory with (hardly any) grace. It was a dirty election. To be honest, I could not tell you what any of the main parties’ policies were since the campaign trail dissolved so quickly into character-bashing and grandiose attempts to make the other leaders look worse than each other.
Once again, ladies and gentlemen, this country is going to be run by the upper echelons of society. Those people who schmoozed each other at Eton and enjoy the comfort of not having to pay bedroom tax are now more secure than ever in a position of power. Do we really want George Osborne as Chancellor? The man has never had to budget in his life. No Tesco’s basics beans for him, oh no. But then we come to David Cameron, a man who made Margaret Thatcher look charismatic. Has he ever had to choose between going on holiday or fixing his house? Has he ever had to save every penny he’s earned to afford a mortgage? This is the man that the UK has for the next five years. A party so out of touch with the people seemed to win this election.
Seven years since the 2008 recession and the country is still feeling the pinch. Inflation and VAT is at an all time high with house prices rising at an exponential rate. With the everyday person now not predicted to own a house until they’re in their late thirties, what is David Cameron going to do to help the country back to being ‘Great’? Has anybody forgotten what stellar ethics he possesses by keeping Rebekah Brooks in his pocket? Or lauding it about in the countryside with his incredibly polite and pleasant pal, Jeremy Clarkson? Does anybody remember when Cameron employed now-convicted criminal Andy Coulson? I’m sure these were all oversights.
Only time will tell as to how much of a danger the landslide victory for the SNP will be in Scotland. It would seem that Cameron’s grovelling to keep the UK together is far from over. With five more years under this government, Cameron needs to emerge as a leader that we all have confidence in, not just those who will benefit from the cut in inheritance tax. Cameron now has a majority win, he no longer needs propping up with a deputy Prime Minister. He is desperate for power, that’s for certain, but can he prove himself to be authentic? If the past five years have anything to prove, it’s that Cameron doesn’t like to upset the Fat Cats, those with influence, he will defend his friends rather than speak up for what is right and moral. The next five years may well be even more trying for this government than the last five years. David Cameron must learn to put his ego aside and lead for all the people, not just those with power and influence.
If it all goes to hell, we’re planning on moving across the pond to vote for Hillary!
