The Public/Private Divide

Abstract

One of the hallmarks of UK Prime Minister David Cameron’s leadership in his first year of government was his seemingly easy ability to show us the public and private side of his life. As a nation we saw the face of the grieving father of a much-loved disabled son who died without warning, the joyful face of a father of a new-born baby girl, and again the grieving face following the death of his own father — and all in one year. It was not just the media photographs, he was also able to articulate his emotions to the world. Putting aside the inevitable cynicism that sees a sympathy vote in every picture, his conduct as a leader cannot help but influence our national culture. Importantly he took his full two weeks paternity leave following the birth of his child.