OUR RESEARCH - YOUR SKILLS: INDUSTRY INSIGHT
HPD Exclusive Report
Patricia Hewitt Leadership through Nature or Nurture?
The ex-Secretary for want, but in Patricia’s case that her integrity is sound.
Health shares her early went out of the window.
experiences of leadership, Once inside, one almost feels
and signposts us to skills This may explain why her offi ce is colder inside than out. The
we should be nurturing. so spartan like. It’s situated in the reception area reminded me of
rugged quarter of Leicester called what an old soviet bureaucrat’s
I
’ve met many charming Frog Island. It’s a working class offi ce would have looked like.
politicians, but none quite as neighbourhood, with Victorian It was dull and grey, with dated
charming as Patricia Hewitt. and Edwardian buildings, which decor throughout. After a few
The ex Health Secretary’s soft once housed great hosiery mills, minutes of waiting, the door to
gaze through her thick glasses, which are now mostly desolate, Patricia’s box opened, and we
coupled with her cheshire-like with specs of industry remaining. were allowed access to one of
smile is quite disarming. Within As you approach her offi ce, you the most infl uential individuals
a few minutes of her arriving all could be forgiven for thinking within British politics throughout
our preconceived nerves were you’ve come to the wrong place. the last decade. Upon seeing
gone, which makes talking to With the recent expenses scandal the private offi ce that resembled
Patricia not only easy, but also raging through Westminster like a closet, we emptied it of its
rather unstructured. I’ve always a wild bush fi re, you only need only major content, namely, a
found that a few nerves and to see the frugal state of her wobbly table. While taking our
formality is good to get what you constituency offi ce to realise that respective seats, she pulled out
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HPD Sept ‘09 - Feb ‘10