TRUST

Sally has served loyally as deputy leader for five years. She is committed to the success of the party and believes in all it stands for. Her leader is a mentor and friend of many years. He’s nearing retirement, but has a burning desire to ‘go with dignity’. A number of Sally’s colleagues have recently asked her to contest the leadership on the basis of poor opinion polls which indicate the party will be ousted without a change of leadership. Knowing the devastating impact this will have personally on the current leader, it is with the utmost reluctance that Sally agrees. Her colleagues ask for, and receive assurance, that this approach will be kept strictly confidential – in part because they know the current leader will be a merciless opponent if his suspicions are aroused. Later that evening, the leader calls Sally aside and asks, “If you value our friendship, then tell me if you know anything of a challenge to my leadership. You owe me at least this much honesty”. What should she do?