I know - it's half term and I have far too much time on my hands. But I have spent the last few hours browsing a number of websites of interest and following random links from news stories I find interesting. Then I came across this - The Blair Years (1997 - 2007) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk_politics/2007/blair_years/default.stm
I can remember clearly watching the General Election results as they arrived in 1997 and watching Tony Blair and the Labour Party start to celebrate as it became clear they had won a victory. I also recall being caught up in the euphoria that we expected the change of government to bring. Since I had started secondary school and started to gain a political awareness I had only known a Conservative government and welcomed any change. Now after a period of Labour government, I am almost looking forward to a change of government again.
However, as we approach the General Election and Blair's possible push for a new role in Europe it is worth evaluating his role in history. It is easy to forget the way in which he was seen as a saviour for a good while. Spend some time looking at the links and remember, whether we like it or not the current General Election will be fought out in the shadow of Tony Blair in more ways than we may think.
What do you think of the Blair years? Success or Failure
2 comments:
Anthony Sheldon is Tony Blair's biographer. His book 'The Blair Year's' can be found in H5 on the shelf. Its big and fat with an interesting insight, particularly into his early years, all youthful and full of hope! Take a look. Personally I think Blair made the labour party electable. He sidelined the left of his party and galvanised young New Labourites and convinced old labourites into a winning machine. That will probably be his leagacy domestically. It will be interesting to see whether Cameron can do the same with the Tories. The right in the Conservative party have been relatively quiet under Cameron but unlike labour under Blair, Cameron hasn't got rid of them and I don't think he has sufficiently moved the bulk of the party to the centre where they are electable. Because of this I don't think this election is a full gone conclusion by any stretch. The Conservatives have to gain a greater voting swing than Labour ever did as the constituency boundaries act against the Tories and for labour. No doubt this will be a central theme of our lessons when looking at elections and party ideologies.
Good old constituency boundaries, hours of fun and joy.
I agree that the next election is not won already, although it does seem very likely that the Conservatives will win judging by popular support on the street. Having said that, if I took the popular consensus here at University, the Liberal Democrats will be staging a huge comeback.
Nick Clegg for PM anyone?
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