OXFORD – As summer winds down and people across the Northern Hemisphere return to work, many political leaders are going on vacation, claiming it helps them recharge and perform better than those who stay at their posts. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, however, decided to cancel his summer holiday to deal with the riots across the country, underscoring the gravity of the situation and his commitment to restoring order.

Starmer’s decision contrasted sharply with that of former U.K .Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who opted to remain on holiday in Greece as the Afghan government – propped up by British personnel and resources – collapsed and the Taliban seized control of Kabul in August 2021. Raab’s choice, which he later regretted, triggered widespread public outrage.

In some countries, going on vacation is virtually taboo for politicians. In India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it is almost unthinkable for a minister to take a week or two off. Meanwhile, Chinese leaders, unsurprisingly, tend to vacation in secret.

Those who object to leaders going on vacation argue that they are elected to serve their countries, not themselves. During their tenure, the........

© The Korea Times