Character Counts in Political Leadership

Dr. Lisa-Anne Chung

Tracy Chapman’s top 50 1988 release of the melodic “Sorry is all that you can’t say” song came to mind thinking of the disgraced Matt Hancock, former Secretary of State for Health in the UK.

I’m sure that if Hancock is prepared to recognise how he was driving a ‘fast car’ to destruction due to poor personal choices, he would say to young politicians just like you, how a lack of good character can disqualify you from serving in a capacity of greater political influence. It can also hinder you from getting elected/appointed before you even have a chance to make a contribution in the political arena.

Hancock was looking to secure more power over the National Health Service (NHS) just before he was forced to resign on Saturday (June 26, 2021). This came after public pressure to do so for having an affair with an aide and breaking covid guidelines that he was instrumental in putting in place which demanded no contact with non-family members at the time. The intimate kiss with his aide was caught on camera happening in his ministerial office, so there was no room for speculation, false claims or allowances for a governmental cover up.

Hancock is a married father of 3 children. His first response when the story broke was to apologise for breaking covid guidelines. I was more focused on him breaking his marriage vows and not indicating any remorse for the moral failure, especially since he occupied a position of public trust. Instead of looking out for…