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'HR Manager, not leader'

Maya

I thought this was an interesting little news story, whereby Keir Starmer was described - in what must be taken in a derogatory way - as 'an hr manager, not a leader' in a recent book by a couple of journalists. 

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/feb/02/cooper-defends-starmer-after-book-says-chief-of-staff-called-him-an-hr-manager

The comment has sat in the back of my brain since I read it, because it raises the age-old issue of HR being seen as ineffectual, timid, and definitely not leadership material. Maybe with a bit of 'uhoh, watch out, here comes the fun police' thrown in!

Not sure I have a specific question for the community on this, just thought it was worth sharing.

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  • Just to add my own 2p to the discussion, this is a further illustration of the fetishisation of "leadership" as an unqualified good.

    This seems bizarre to me, given that are replete with examples of excellent leaders with malign or selfish motives in politics, right now. These are people who are galvanising their followers into actions that ultimately benefit only the leader, persuading them to believe the leader's lies over the evidence of their own eyes and ears, changing the very fabric of the societies that propelled them to power. They are, by every reasonable definition, highly effective leaders. But would you really want to work for them?

    Frankly, the country could do with a bit of "management" for a few years.
  • in reply to Robey

    I think this is from James Timpson...

  • in reply to Steve Bridger
    At best, Steve, those are features of one particular kind of leader.

    I'm sure they work for James. But then, James also inherited his position. I'm not saying he's not worked hard and I know he's well qualified for the job he has and, frankly, I rate him in his political role. But if he were James Smith or James Jones, I daresay he wouldn't have been the CEO of a company that shares his surname. And that gives him a considerable degree of privilege even before you consider his peerage.

    Had he found his way to the top without that genetic lottery win, I suspect his principles of leadership might have looked rather different.
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  • in reply to Steve Bridger
    At best, Steve, those are features of one particular kind of leader.

    I'm sure they work for James. But then, James also inherited his position. I'm not saying he's not worked hard and I know he's well qualified for the job he has and, frankly, I rate him in his political role. But if he were James Smith or James Jones, I daresay he wouldn't have been the CEO of a company that shares his surname. And that gives him a considerable degree of privilege even before you consider his peerage.

    Had he found his way to the top without that genetic lottery win, I suspect his principles of leadership might have looked rather different.
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