Tonight:
2°c
On Sunday evening I was caught up in a perfect rainstorm of traffic. A burst water main, closure of bridges, a football match and the return to the city.
I could feel my temples throbbing and stretching in a dangerously Gordon Brown/Incredible Hulk fashion, so I quickly retuned the radio to Aled Jones's tribute to the great choir master Stanley Vann.
The leadership style of Vann was brilliantly effective. If the choir performed well, he would say: “Thank you, gentlemen and boys.” If they were exceptional, he would say: “Thank you very much.” If they sang badly, he would politely murmur his disappointment and the choir would lapse into devastated silence.
This is a slightly more nuanced management style than that of our Prime Minister. When Tony Blair spoke of Brown's “great clunking fist” we did not realise that he was being literal. In the wake of Brown's big-hearted performance with Piers Morgan perhaps it is more like Florence and the Machine's Kiss with a Fist.
Andrew Rawnsley's revelations about Brown swearing and punching his official car, or flinging typists from their chairs, have had a mixed reception. Some commentators, such as Janet Street-Porter, say temper goes with high-powered jobs, and she calls for women's equal rights to sling secretaries across the room.
There is all the difference in the world between purposeful and undirected fury. The rage of a sergeant-major is as effective as the icy displeasure of a commanding officer, both aimed at raising standards. What does not work is panic. Gordon Brown shrugs off his red spots as the impatience of a man with a mission. This does not sit with the political autobiography of former Labour general secretary Peter Watt, who says: “Downing Street was a shambles, no vision, no strategy, no co-ordination.”
The qualities of leadership in a crisis should be absolute calm and clarity. Heroic leadership includes consideration for subordinates at all times. In the case of Margaret Thatcher, it took the form of tender interest in the wellbeing of her dresser Crawfie, even while her political career was collapsing. Brown's leadership sounds more like that of Dick “The Gorilla” Fuld, lately of Lehman Brothers, a mix of aggression and paranoia. It also created a thuggish culture in the shape of men such as Damian McBride.
I don't think Brown's temper can be dismissed by Peter Mandelson as a funny little peccadillo. The “psychological flaws” are at the heart of Brown's political character. It is why Tony Blair got the job and Brown didn't. It is why Blair was an agile moderniser and Brown could not be.
I am amazed that Harriet Harman, who has banged on and on about human rights in the workplace, should not use this opportunity to knock bullying on the head. Men, even prime ministers, can no longer behave like Minotaurs.
Vanessa's graceful greatness
Cherie Blair refused to curtsy to the Queen, from socialist principle. Yet Vanessa Redgrave, whose politics are considerably further to the Left, was happy to perform a full ballerina curtsy before Prince William at the Baftas.
Was this a betrayal of her ideology, or a self-confidence that had outgrown adolescent political gestures? Michelle Obama, whom we can safely presume is a republican, also curtsied during her visit to Buckingham Palace, before later breaking all protocol and giving the Queen a well-received hug. It is a mark of greatness to be gracious.
Smoke, Amis and the ire of Anna Ford
Martin Amis's treatment of Anna Ford is not exactly the same as Ashley Cole's behaviour towards Cheryl, but there is a parallel.
Ashley Cole sent a photograph on his mobile phone to his American lover, Ann Corbitt, of himself in small white pants. Ms Corbitt said: “He looked really skinny and was smoking a cigarette. I thought it was really gross.”
It is not clear if she objected to Cole's body or to the fact that he was smoking. Similarly, Anna Ford's tirade against Amis centred on the fact that he lit a cigarette over her husband, a dying man, a detail he denies in the battle of Guardian letters.
Amis and Ford represent a terrible clash of cultures, and there was a poignant tussle for the soul of Mark Boxer. He was a witty renegade redeemed by his beautiful, humourless wife.
I knew another former lover of Miss Ford's who was similarly on best behaviour in her company, signalling to his old lag friends, of whom I was one, that we should smarten up and drop the politically incorrect jokes when in her presence. Amis was clearly sulkily defiant and must now suffer Ford's magnificent displeasure.
MPs start to look younger
The other day, I joined a panel of London prospective parliamentary candidates at London's 42 Club for a current affairs debate. What struck me was the extreme youth of the candidates plus their live-it-and-breathe-it dedication to politics.
For years politicians have complained of youthful disengagement from politics. I think they are behind the curve. After the election, we are suddenly going to see a Parliament of pre-pubescents.
Reader views (1)
G Brown the incredible bulk. BUSTer Brown yesterday's man.
- Bob Stone, Bournemouth, England, 23/02/2010 11:47
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