12 months after the Liberal Party leadership spill it’s worth taking a moment to consider how Tony has performed as leader.

Abbott is many things, some of them unpleasant, some of them admirable, but one thing he does not appear to be is comfortable in a leadership role.

After the rapid decline and fall of Malcolm Turnbull Abbott’s hat was thrown into the ring as Nick Minchin’s last ditch assault on Turnbull’s liberalism and Hockey’s vacillation; and Abbott appeared to be as surprised as everyone else when he won. Being a politician, leadership was something he was expected to aspire to, and I doubt that it occurred to him at the time to question whether or not he actually wanted it or would be any good at it. His performance as leader has been erratic at best, and he has never demonstrated the calm confidence in himself or his party that is required of a truly successful leader.

John Howard’s appearance on QandA a week or so back was not all joy, but he showed very clearly that he is accustomed to the requirements of command. Howard is not a man who suffers from self doubt, he doesn’t need validation from outside sources to shore up his beliefs, he has absolute confidence that the choices he made were right and that surety gave his party and the country the confidence to follow where he led. Whether or not his choices were right is almost irrelevant when assessing his abilities as a leader.

Abbott, by comparison, is unsure of himself most of the time. He tries to present himself as a conviction politician, based on the fact that he has deeply held convictions. What he is not able to do though, is carry those convictions through in the face of external pressures. The constant stumbles when confronted by unexpected questions and the inconsistency in his expressions of support for other members of his party reflect his internal doubts about himself and his need for external approval and support. His body language is awkward, and his intermittent ability to express himself demonstrates a lack of confidence that cannot inspire or convince others to follow where he leads. These things are not personal flaws, but they are significant leadership flaws.

Abbott does not appear to be a man given greatly to introspection, so it would not be surprising if he has not realized himself that leadership does not come naturally to him, and while the blow to his pride would be severe if he were to lose the leadership, I think in many ways he would be relieved to take up the lieutenant’s role, to which he is far more suited, under someone else’s leadership.

I’m also fairly sure that he would not be the only one to heave a huge sigh of relief if that were to happen. Are you listening Malcolm Turnbull?

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