A letter to ed

"Dear Mr Miliband,

The purpose of this letter is not your party's policies but about the role of political leadership in general. There is a saying that goes: “If you know what you want and know how to get it, then you don’t need leaders.” I ask you whether you put yourself in the category of being in charge of such followers? Perhaps they know what they want, but not how to get it? If someone joins a political party then presumably they agree with its principles and aims beforehand. Or is your role solely as a salesman for your party's policies?

Secondly, what is your “official” position in the Labour Party? A political party has various officials and functionaries such as general secretary, chairman, treasurer etc. As far as I am aware the title “leader” does not bestow upon you any specific function, except the “on-the-nod” acceptance of your decisions by members of your organisation. In other words, what are your terms of reference? My question is equally addressed to all those political parties which
install leaders.

Yours sincerely,
JV