A lesson from London
Sir Winston Churchill was one of the prime movers and shakers of the Allied Forces against Nazi Germany – indeed, it is his leadership that is credited with saving Britain and the rest of the world. As an unelected wartime Prime Minister he was without equal – all bold decisions and rousing speeches that helped rally the troops against the common enemy. After the end of the war – a victory that saved the world – his approval rating stood at 83% – and this after never having dipped below 78%. The Conservatives were comfortable in the knowledge that his popularity alone would see them re-elected comfortably.
As it turned out, Churchill and the Conservatives suffered one of their greatest defeats, as Labour took the election in a landslide. While the causes for this defeat are numerous and detailed, one important factor stands out – that during the course of the campaign, it became evident to the British public that while the Kingdom could not have asked for a greater leader than Sir Winston Churchill during the war, he was not their answer in peacetime.
Now Churchill never called on the people to re-elect him out of gratitude for saving them – indeed, saving the world – but it would appear that even had he done so, his plea would have fallen on deaf ears. For all their flaws, the British seemed to know to treat their politicians –as the old joke goes – as they treat their babies’ diapers: they had to be changed from time to time.
Sir Winston Churchill was one of the prime movers and shakers of the Allied Forces against Nazi Germany – indeed, it is his leadership that is credited with saving Britain and the rest of the world. As an unelected wartime Prime Minister he was without equal – all bold decisions and rousing speeches that helped rally the troops against the common enemy. After the end of the war – a victory that saved the world – his approval rating stood at 83% – and this after never having dipped below 78%. The Conservatives were comfortable in the knowledge that his popularity alone would see them re-elected comfortably.
As it turned out, Churchill and the Conservatives suffered one of their greatest defeats, as Labour took the election in a landslide. While the causes for this defeat are numerous and detailed, one important factor stands out – that during the course of the campaign, it became evident to the British public that while the Kingdom could not have asked for a greater leader than Sir Winston Churchill during the war, he was not their answer in peacetime.
Now Churchill never called on the people to re-elect him out of gratitude for saving them – indeed, saving the world – but it would appear that even had he done so, his plea would have fallen on deaf ears. For all their flaws, the British seemed to know to treat their politicians –as the old joke goes – as they treat their babies’ diapers: they had to be changed from time to time.
