The UK leadership crisis: Responding Biblically

It is extraordinary that after barely two years we are in a similar crisis of leadership in the Labour Government to what we saw in the later years of the Conservative Government.

It brings back painful memories to me, as I was a member of the Executive of the 1922 Committee which governed Party leadership elections. I was one of the “men in grey suits” – although we had women in the Executive and I rarely wore grey! Our task was to let the Prime Minister know the mood of backbenchers and views about issues of the day. It also had the ultimate role of telling the PM when his or her time was up.

It was a useful sounding board for Prime Ministers, and perhaps Sir Keir has lacked that safe place, that safety valve, to engage with his Parliamentary team. However, our advice to the Prime Minister was not always heeded. I recall when I challenged Prime Minister Cameron about his plan to further liberalise Sunday trading and warned him that he would lose a vote. It ended up being the biggest rebellion of his Premiership on a 3 line whip and, like Prime Minister Thatcher who had a bigger majority, he lost the vote.

In a multimedia world any leader and particularly a political one has a tough job, but democracy is and always has been a numbers game. If you haven’t got the votes you lose. The recent local elections have come at a bad time for Sir Keir when he was already facing challenges about his judgement. Losing nearly 1,500 local councillors is devastating for a Party. Thousands of activists will be left deeply disappointed after suffering weeks of doors slammed in their faces and expressions of discontent with the Prime Minister ringing in their ears. It is no surprise MPs have come back to Westminster and demanded change.

It is another reminder of the continued polarisation and division in British politics, and the fracturing of the old two-party system. The political forces which led to Brexit and then Cameron resigning in 2016, are still apparent in 2026 with successive Prime Ministers struggling to handle the new dynamics. The May 2026 local election map largely mirrors the lines of the 2016 Brexit referendum.

This is not just a crisis in Westminster. The lack of trust in politicians seems to be entrenched, with the last IPSOS poll, on which professions the public trust, putting politicians right at the bottom. Sadly local councillors do not fare much better.

How to respond?

How do we as Christians respond to this continued crisis in leadership? We know humbly that the issues of godly leadership, or lack of it, as well as a lack of respect for leaders extends to the church as well.

First we should continue to trust in our Sovereign Lord.

“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are His. He changes times and seasons; He deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.” (Daniel 2v20-21)

Second, we should better develop our theology of government. I guess that many of our churches rarely teach about the importance of government to reflect God’s character.

“For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good.” (Romans 13v4)

We should resist the trend to malign and smear our politicians, instead affirming the role of ordained authorities. We must continually hold our government in prayer, whoever sits in Downing Street and in the Cabinet.

Whatever our view of the quality of the Prime Minister and his Government, Christians have lived under worse circumstances and certainly worse governments. Christians were reported by Tacitus as being torn apart by dogs, crucified and burned alive as night-time lighting. Paul was writing to the church in Rome subject to the brutal government of Emperor Nero, who persecuted Christians as scapegoats for his failures. Despite such persecution and provocation, Paul called for a high view and respectful view of government.

“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” (Romans 13v1)

Third, we also need a better theology of church, so that we don’t avoid politics and its role within the life of community. The church acts as the God-given structure that upholds, defends, and stabilises the gospel message in the world – which includes the messy world of politics. (1 Timothy 3v15) Our churches should hold up and hold out the Word of Truth, displaying true godliness and seek those Christ-like values in public life. Are we encouraging people in our churches to pray for our leaders and raising up leaders for the public sphere? Are we prayerfully supporting them once they are there?

I would recommend reaching out to your newly elected councillors. Contact them and invite them to visit your church and let them know that you are praying for them.

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” (1 Timothy 2v1-2)

Fourth, a Biblical view of leadership should mean we should have higher standards than the world. We long for godly leaders who will have some of the qualities and characteristics of Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, Solomon, Daniel, or Nehemiah:

“Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year – twelve years – neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. But the earlier governors – those preceding me – placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that.” (Nehemiah 5v14-15)

Point to Jesus

Finally, we should be full of hope and point to our Servant King, as it becomes clearer that He is the only leader worthy of full respect and honour and to be loved and revered (Philippians 2v5-11).

As we pray for the Prime Minister and Government I can do no better than use the same timely words used by the Speakers Chaplain since 1558 to begin each day in the Commons:

“Lord, the God of righteousness and truth, grant to our King and his government, to Members of Parliament and all in positions of responsibility, the guidance of your Spirit. May they never lead the nation wrongly through love of power, desire to please, or unworthy ideals but laying aside all private interests and prejudices keep in mind their responsibility to seek to improve the condition of all mankind; so may your kingdom come and your name be hallowed. Amen.”

Christian MPs and political figures contribute as believers not party politicians. en does not endorse any one particular party.