Which Prime Minister ?

[sunny-dave]

Who would you pick from the last 50 years as the PM you reckon would have done best in leading/uniting the country in a fight against a pandemic?

I’d probably take Harold Wilson - certainly the sharpest knife in the drawer (before his Alzheimers). Avuncular and confidence inspiring in public, and utterly ruthless behind the scenes.

[jim360]

The one most likely to be able to appreciate the scientific advice is probably Thatcher, given her own scientific background. Who knows if that would be an advantage or not, but hard to see it hurting. And she was ahead of the curve on Climate Change, so there's that.

[allenlondon]

If you extend your 50 to post-war, then (surprising to me) I’d choose Churchill.

Not a great PM in normal times, but in times like this, you need someone decisive and ruthless.

[JJ109]

Margaret Thatcher
Knowledgable, great organiser and would be very tough on idiots breaking curfew. Wouldn't stand for any nonsese

[retrocop]

I would also opt for Mrs Thatcher. Fighting spirit and resolve. Scientific background. Likely to have a couple of boxes of Deodrant wipes,sanitizer and Paracetamol in her handbag and ready to take on the bugs.

[Canary42]

I would go back further than 50 years to Attlee, the man who pulled Britain out of the enormous wartime economic slump but at the same time created the greatest health service the world has ever seen.

[TonyV]

Maggie for me as well.

[allenlondon]

Thatcher? You are kidding! It was her and her lunatic policies that smashed UK industry and started the dreadful decline of the NHS and other social services.

A disastet.

[marval]

Margaret Thatcher for me.

[Hopkirk]

Definitely Margaret Thatcher.

[allenlondon]

Sometimes I like it here, but when the turkeys-voting-for-Christmas brigade start their chorus “We Love Thatcher”, then I know I’m off before the asylum doors slam shut.

[jim360]

I'm certainly not part of the "we love Thatcher" brigade, but if a medical crisis requires a scientifically-literate response, it's hard to see how being a qualified scientist would hurt.

[calmck]

Churchill A remarkable man whom I had the pleasure of nursing when he broke his hip.

[TheDevil]

Clement Attlee. He'd fund a load of money into the NHS and say why on earth have you got this big rainy day fund ready for WW3 nine times over.

[anneasquith]

Impossible to say, these are totally unique circumstances. I’ll bet 90% of english will say saint Margaret :-)

[JimF]

^^ They already have!

[retrocop]

Well it wouldn't be Gordon Brown. He would of flogged off, to China, what few ventilators we currently have. :-(

[Prudie]

I think anne that's because these times needs a PM who is decisive, charismatic, intelligent beyond politics and forceful and there weren't that many to choose from with those qualities. I'm not a fan particularly, she was around when I was too young enjoying life to give a hoot about politics but she's probably the one with those qualities. Boris may foot the bill too, we shall have to see.

[Zacs-Master]

Maggie Maggie Maggie!

[naomi24]

I'm happy with Boris but if he wasn't around I would choose Mrs Thatcher. No nonsense, get on with the job.

[gulliver1]

Don't know about the best, But Thatcher was the worst, it is no doubt about it, her fault why the UKs NHS,has fallen to number 18 in the best health service in the World League Table.