Labs Method statement
YouGovLabs research is anecdotal, with polls being open to all panellists who wish to take part. In contrast to YouGov’s Public Opinion polling, YouGovLabs seeks to understand the attitudes of specific subsets of people: sports fans tell us how they feel about sports and music fans tell us how they feel about music, for example. YouGovLabs results are unweighted, and figures reported do not reflect the attitudes of the population as a whole.
Your political role models
The mood is black in Westminster, engulfing politicians from here right through to Brussels and the White House. These are troubled, volatile times.
Against this backdrop, PoliticsLab asked the politically-minded to make their nominations: which politicians from throughout history do you think are or were the greatest and worst role models for society? Whether long gone or currently in office, who represents the positive side of the political stage – and who the negative?
Here is the final list of the best - and worst - political role models chosen by you, PoliticsLab panellists, along with some of the major comments that we received, that we feel best explain your choices.
The sum of these individuals' qualities paints a picture of what you most value in our political leaders – pointing towards the attributes that you think would see Britain through today – and what you find unconstructive, damaging, or never-to-be repeated behaviour.
Those who were seen as making ‘real change’ were most vaunted. Those who stood up for 'freedom', for social justice; the protectors of the nation as a whole, and of the most vulnerable in society. You remark on the impact of the great-and-good’s powerful yet, you feel, sincere speeches.
Which poses the question: who, of today’s politicians will we see rise to these challenges? Who will be the modern day ‘mothers’ and ‘fathers’ of change? Will politicos ever be able to work against the grain of a seemingly relentless crisis of integrity, embodied by the recent hacking scandal, expenses scandal...or such decisions as the invasion of Iraq?
What do you make of these nominations, and the leadership qualities flagged up here?
Do you agree or disagree with what has been said by those who took part in last week’s PoliticsLab survey?
Perhaps you’d side with the PoliticsLab panellist who said that 'even the best politicians will eventually exhibit catastrophic flaws under the extreme pressure, fire and adversity to which they are subjected' – and as such are doomed to failure? Or maybe you categorically disagree with that?
Whatever your stance, why not scroll down to our comments section and add to the debate?
Top politicians
| 'The Greatest Political Role Model of All Time' SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL |
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All other contenders pale into insignificance. A tireless protector of British freedom; a rousing yet unmannered orator; fiercely intelligent, and true – these, and the comments below, are just a smattering of the qualities that you feel amass in the great politician.
Winston Churchill led a coalition government through the Second World War and the country on to victory, and in this the place he occupies in PoliticsLab panellists' consciousness looks flatly barred to any other political hopeful.
| ANEURIN 'NYE' BEVAN |
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Honourable mentions
| TONY BENN |
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| CLEMENT ATTLEE |
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| DAVID LLOYD GEORGE |
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| ALEX SALMOND |
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Benjamin Disraeli – “Succeeded despite being a Jew at a time when society was very class and race conscious”, “Founder, or at least seen as model for One Nation politics”
Abraham Lincoln – “His all-embracing views on human and animal rights”, “He was a role model for ethical politics and strove to serve the people”
Aung San Suu Kyi – “Current and genuine”, “A strong and honourable leader who sets an example to the world - a true freedom fighter”
| 'The Politician Who Most-Divided Panellists' MARGARET THATCHER |
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THUMBS UP
THUMBS DOWN
| ‘The Worst Political Role Model of All Time’TONY BLAIR |
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Dishonourable mentions
| NICK GRIFFIN |
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| GEORGE W BUSH |
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| GORDON BROWN |
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| NICK CLEGG |
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| DAVID CAMERON |
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Enoch Powell – “For stirring up racism and giving it a degree of respectability”
John Major – “Weak and unimpressive”, “Seemed to be bewildered by his election as PM”
John Prescott – “Quick temper”, “Quick to jump on the gravy train”
What do you make of these nominations, and the leadership qualities flagged up here?
Do you agree or disagree with what has been said by those who took part in last week’s PoliticsLab survey?
Perhaps you’d side with the PoliticsLab panellist who said that 'even the best politicians will eventually exhibit catastrophic flaws under the extreme pressure, fire and adversity to which they are subjected' – and as such are doomed to failure? Or maybe you categorically disagree with that?
Whatever your stance, why not scroll down to our comments section and add to the debate?
Labs Method statement
YouGovLabs research is anecdotal, with polls being open to all panellists who wish to take part. In contrast to YouGov’s Public Opinion polling, YouGovLabs seeks to understand the attitudes of specific subsets of people: sports fans tell us how they feel about sports and music fans tell us how they feel about music, for example. YouGovLabs results are unweighted, and figures reported do not reflect the attitudes of the population as a whole.
