‘Ministry Of Boris' Would Be A Blow To Our Democracy

‘Great PMs achieved their goal through force of character’

- Leo McKinstry

The leadership of Gareth Southgate has been an inspiration to his team and the nation. Though under colossal pressure throughout the Euros, he exuded composure, dignity, purpose and astuteness.

But he was able to give full expression to those qualities partly because of his unique authority. From tactics to the selection, he possessed total control of his squad.

That has been the way in English football ever since Sir Alf Ramsey was appointed the first professional manager of the national side in 1963. Indeed, Sir Alf, to whom Southgate is often compared, insisted as a condition of taking the job that he would have responsibility for all aspects of the team.

Today another national leader, Boris Johnson, casts an envious eye at the extent of the England manager’s command, in comparison to the limitations of his own role.

Since he entered Downing Street in 2019, the Prime Minister has regularly voiced frustrations at the struggle to get things done. His job, he says in private, is “like pulling a jumbo jet down a runway every day”, while he also describes his powers as “chocolate levers” because they snap off in his hands whenever he pulls them.