From a comment by Andrew McEwan:
"Attlee didn't - and his political leadership left a lasting legacy
Andrew McEwan (6/22/2009 3:40:00 PM GMT)
Atlee enjoyed similar press coverage to Brown. He wasn't a great orator, he was often seen as crisp and to the point. He struggled to connect with the public and was dogged by bad press coverage for almost the entirety of his premiership, especially from Conservative-leaning papers. However, just like George VI who he served, being ineloquent doesn't mean you can't lead effectively. In fact, Attlee's government is often seen as the most efficient cabinet government of post-war governments. His willingness to delegate and come to collective decisions saw the creation of the NHS, the Welfare State and Select Committees, all of which transformed British social and political life. Attlee's political leadership set the economic and political consensus for three decades and it was not because of his emotional bond with the public. It was because of good policies and effective government. It seems that the people recognised this because Attlee's government won an increase in the popular vote in 1950. The election of 1951 was lost, not due to Attlee, but due to the splits in the party. Consensus, is therefore, where Brown should perhaps focus his energies." |