PREFACE
‘The power of emotions is ignored or underestimated at our peril, not only
by political leaders, but by those in any context who misuse their influence over others.’
JAN CHILDS
The above quote which emphasises the influence of emotional impact is included
in narrative I originally wrote for ‘EQ & Political Leadership’, a book which was due to be
released July 2024 which for various reasons has not been published. Contributors with
in-depth knowledge and experience of the world of political leadership whose interview
write-ups form the book’s primary content have however generously agreed to their
publication on the EQ4U website. The time and thought they gave to sharing revealing
experiences and perceptions of political leadership, teamwork and culture was much
appreciated. My thanks also to former MP, Daniel Kawczynski for introductions which
enabled me to write the book.
Both national and international contributors are included, all of whom provide
enlightening learning and insights. Core interview questions included: admired leaders;
emotional impact on decision making: political establishment culture; views on
interdependence; advice to younger self. Website publishing permission is awaited from
a number of other contributors; in alphabetical surname order, the following interview
write-ups are currently available - I hope you find their interview reports an engaging
and informative leadership learning resource.
Richard Balfe – Lord Richard Balfe is a politician who was created a life peer in 2013,
taking the title Baron Balfe of Dulwich. He was a Labour Party Member of the European
Parliament (MEP) from 1979 but joined the Conservative Party in 2002. Political roles
include President of the Cambridge Conservative Association, Honorary President of the
British Dietetic Association, and member of the Advisory Board at the UK-based 'Polar
Regions' think-tank. Richard is currently President of the TUC affiliated Union BALPA
(the British Airline Pilots Association). Amongst others, Richard’s role experience also
includes Foreign Affairs, Security, Economy and Petitions plus Presidency of the
European Parliament Members Pension Fund. In line with his pro-EU views, he played
an active role in ‘Cambridge for Europe’
Click to read the full interview of RICHARD BALFE
Robert Buckland – Robert Buckland, the Welsh Conservative Party politician and
barrister was the MP for South Swindon from 2010 to 2024. His political roles include
Solicitor General for England and Wales from 2014 to 2019, Secretary of State for
Justice (Prisons) and Lord Chancellor, July 2019, until cabinet reshuffle in September
2021 and Secretary of State for Wales, 2022. Robert is the second Lord Chancellor from
Llanelli, after Lord Elwyn Jones. He was born in Llanelli, attended Hatfield College,
Durham and graduated in Law in 1990. Robert attended the Inns of Court School of
Law, where he was a prize winner for Advocacy and was Called to the Bar at Inner
Temple in October 1991. He returned to practise in Wales and was appointed as a
Recorder of the Crown Court, sitting on the Midland Circuit.
Click to read the full interview of ROBERT BUCKLAND
Hassan Diab - Hassan Bahaeddine Diab is a Lebanese academic, engineer,
educationalist, professor, executive, and politician who was appointed by President
Michel Aoun on December 19, 2019, to serve as the 26th Prime Minister of Lebanon.
While his premiership was relatively brief (January 2020 to September 2021) he strived
throughout his term to lead Lebanon towards achieving positive change based on
national interest principles and ethical governance. Prior to his premiership, he also
served as the Minister of Education and Higher Education (June 2011 – February 2014).
Amid civil unrest following the Port of Beirut explosion in 2020 and due to his sense of
ethical responsibility, Hassan resigned as Prime Minister. However, given the deep
political divide and politicians’ inability to promptly form a cabinet due to the grave
economic and social conditions prevailing in the country, he continued to serve as
caretaker Prime Minister for over 13 months (a record time in Lebanon’s history at the
time) until Najib Mikati formed a new government on September 10, 2021.
Click to read the full interview of HASSAN DIAB
Nigel Farage – Nigel Farage was elected as MP for Clacton in 2024 and has been Leader of
Reform UK since 2024. A former Member of the European Parliament for South-East
England (1999-2020), Leader of the UK Independence Party (2006-2009, 2010-2016),
and Leader of the Brexit Party (2019-2021). By many, he is perceived to be the ‘Father
of Brexit’, being a prominent British Eurosceptic since the early 1990s. Under his
leadership, UKIP gained a record 3.8 million votes in the 2015 elections, though such
result translated to only one elected MP. A year later, Farage’s political ambition had
been achieved with Britain voting to leave the European Union in the 2016 referendum.
After the UK had secured a trade-deal with the EU in December 2020, Nigel announced
his retirement from frontline politics in March 2021. Nigel is currently the Honorary
President of Reform UK and a presenter for GB News. Throughout his career, Nigel
challenged the political correctness culture in British politics – regularly appearing in
pubs and openly discussing topics that were often deemed as ‘controversial’ such as
immigration.
Click to read the full interview of NIGEL FARAGE
Robert Lisvane - Robert Lisvane is a British life peer and retired public servant. He
served as Clerk of the House of Commons from October 2011 until August 2014 and
currently sits as a crossbencher in the House of Lords. Robert has been involved in
every aspect of parliamentary procedural and committee work during his career and
having served for over four decades in the House of Commons, has considerable depth
and breadth of understanding of its culture and practice. Robert is co-author of ‘How
Parliament Works’, and author of Order! Order! and Who Goes Home?
Click to read the full interview of ROBERT LISVANE
Rami Mortada - Rami Mortada has been the Ambassador of Lebanon to the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland since December 2017. He first joined the
Foreign Service (Valedictorian) in 1993 and since then has had Embassy roles in Beirut,
Muscat, Paris, New York and Damascus, being promoted to the rank of Ambassador in 2012.
Previous roles include Ambassador of Lebanon to the Kingdom of Belgium and
the European Union (2013-17) and Charge d’Affaires – Embassy of Lebanon in Syria
(2009-13). He also opened the Lebanese Embassy in Damascus-Syria after inauguration
of diplomatic relations and served as Counsellor/Charge d’Affaires (2009 – 12). Rami
has been awarded the Ordre National de Merite – Officer/French Republic and La Grand
Croix de l’Ordre de la Couronne (Belgique)
Click to read the full interview of RAMI MORTADA
Camilla Tominey - Camilla Tominey is a British journalist and broadcaster with editorial
focus on political reporting and the British royal family. Since January 2023, she has
presented The Camilla Tominey Show, a Sunday morning politics show on GB News
along with her role as an associate editor of the Daily Telegraph. The show’s intention
of bringing news from the frontline of politics means that Camilla has engaged in
conversation with a diverse range of political interviewees, including amongst numerous
others: David Davies, Oliver Dowden, James Cleverley, Mark Harper, Stephen Timms,
Priti Patel, Michael Gove, Luciana Berger and Liz Truss. Camilla’s 23-year journalistic
career has consequently given her a wide ranging and distinctive insight into both the
British political establishment and Britain’s royal family.
Click to read the full interview of CAMILLA TOMINEY
