Ethical Leadership in Dark Times: Moving towards action

When the British Prime Minister made Palestinian statehood conditional, as if Palestinian lives were mere pawns in a geopolitical game, it marked a new low for moral leadership. Combined with the rhetoric of "sending the boats back", we are witnessing a political climate steeped in racism, dehumanisation, and a disregard for the lives of those most marginalised.

But this void in leadership is not confined to the halls of government.

It is glaringly absent across sectors that pride themselves on values of social responsibility - from the charity sector to the B Corp community, and amongst the 3000 businesses that have signed the Better Business Act, which calls for a legal alignment of business actions with societal and environmental needs. Despite these commitments, many organisations have remained silent in the face of escalating humanitarian crises and rising far-right hate.

This is not because people within these organisations don't care. Through countless personal conversations, I know how deeply many of us are affected by the scenes of devastation in Palestine, and by the broader global surge in racism, xenophobia, and far-right extremism. Yet, too often, this personal concern fails to translate into organisational action.

Why?

Because silence feels safer. Leaders cling to the perceived neutrality of inaction - citing policies, guidance from the Charity Commission, or the belief that global injustices are beyond their remit. There is a reluctance to interrogate the reality that politics permeates every organisation. That every decision - or lack thereof - has political implications.

The excuses are familiar: lack of time, no capacity, fear of reputational damage, concern over funding, or simply choosing other fights. But in choosing comfort over courage, organisations miss the opportunity to practice the kind of visible, ethical leadership we so desperately need.

Anti-racism requires more than statements of solidarity. It demands that we act, even - and especially - when it's uncomfortable.

A Resource for Leaders Committed to Action

To support organisations in moving beyond silence, we have created our 2025 Commitment to Global Equity, Anti-Racism, and Justice - a resource designed to help organisations reflect, take meaningful action, and foster new conversations within their teams.

This document includes:

• A current anti-racism statement contextualised for 2025

• Recognition of the British role in global systems of oppression

• A checklist of 10 tangible, meaningful actions leaders can take today

We invite you to download the resource and use it as a tool to:

• Challenge organisational inaction

• Open up conversations about ethical leadership

• Identify practical steps towards anti-racist practice in your workplace

We hope this will be a catalyst for reflection, accountability, and most importantly - action.