Where is the next generation of truly inspiring leaders?

By Mathew Hulbert / @mathewhulbert

Watching BBC Question Time this week I was struck by how all too many of our politicians these days are, to use the phrase of a fellow Tweeter, ‘political pygmies’. Shaun Woodward seemed, at times, to have trouble defending this Government’s record on a number of issues. For the Tories Dame Pauline Neville Jones mumbled her way through some mediocre answers. The Lib Dems’ Julia Goldsworthy played to the crowd in a perfectly pleasing but ultimately unsatisfactory matter. Even rower James Cracknell managed better, more coherent responses than the politicians.

But the star of the show (other than stand-in host John Humphrys…let him present it every week, I say) was undoubtedly Will Self, who gave intellectual answers and, to my mind at least, was correct in each of them.

All this made me think, where are this generation’s truly excellent politicians, those who make us feel confident about our public life and our Government? You can count them on one hand as far as I’m concerned.

I don’t agree with much that he says but Peter Mandelson is one such individual. He really gives you the sense that he’s thought things through and has an intellectual basis to his politics.

Despite his apparent unpopularity I feel the same about Gordon Brown.

But what of the next generation?

David Miliband is obviously bright but is very awkward in front of the cameras. Meanwhile his brother almost has the reverse problem; he’s better than his older bro in front of the cameras but, in political terms, is yet to really start shaving. I get the feeling James Purnell is both bright and articulate but, of course, is no longer in the Government.

And, well, who else is there?

Ed Balls may be many things but someone who inspires confidence in front of the cameras he surely is not. His wife Yvette Cooper is a far better performer but can come across as a tad stern sometimes.

Sadly, some of the best people in public life are, for the moment at least, unlikely to end up in positions of power. I speak of Vince Cable, the Lib Dems’ economics spokesman and the Green Party’s leader, Caroline Lucas.

This country’s first-past-the-post voting system cruelly prevents people like them from ever having a chance of being ministers and putting their considerable talent to use for the good of all of our people. Instead we’re left with too many second-raters.

Bad for Question Time. Bad for democracy. Bad for us all.