Tony Blair resigns on wednesday

[Vanhalen 0]

Its kinda weird, because hes been prime minister for so long, over ten years now, its hard to imagine someone else

 

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6226082.stm

 

 

Tony Blair promised "unswerving support" for Gordon Brown as prime minister at an emotional farewell Cabinet meeting, Downing Street said.

 

And Mr Brown told Mr Blair anything he achieved in the future would be because he was "standing on your shoulders".

 

Mr Blair received a standing ovation from colleagues at the end of an "extraordinary" hour-long meeting.

 

He was presented with a print of the prime minister's country residence, Chequers, as a leaving gift.

 

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, who is also standing down, was presented with a print of Admiralty Arch, where he has a grace and favour apartment.

 

The gifts were paid for by an earlier Cabinet whip-round.

 

'Right moment'

 

Mr Prescott said he was "immensely proud" of what the government had achieved and would "leave office with his head held high".

 

Mr Blair hailed Mr Prescott's intelligence and shrewdness and said he had been a "wonderful colleague".

 

 

He wouldn't get a standing ovation from most of the country

William Hague, shadow foreign secretary

 

He said Mr Brown, who takes over from him next week, had all the qualities to be a great prime minister and he offered the chancellor his "unswerving support".

 

"It is the right moment to go," Mr Blair told the Cabinet.

 

Commons leader Jack Straw led tributes to Mr Blair, saying he would be remembered as one of the most successful prime ministers ever.

 

'Historic' changes

 

He said Mr Blair had faced up to the tough decisions that needed to be taken for the country and had made it a better place.

 

He had tackled racial and gender prejudice and created a society "at ease with itself".

 

Mr Straw also paid warm tribute to Mr Prescott, praising his "courage" and saying he had transformed the country's infrastructure, with projects such as the Channel Tunnel rail link.

 

In his farewell tribute to Mr Blair, Mr Brown said people would "look back in 100 years time and see the achievements that Tony Blair has made".

 

The changes he had made would be "historic and enduring", added Mr Brown.

 

He pointed to Northern Ireland, the way Mr Blair had responded to the 7 July bombings and terrorism and securing the 2012 Olympics as examples of Mr Blair's lasting achievements.

 

'Wonderful colleague'

 

He also hailed civil partnerships, the way Mr Blair had "transformed public services" and his leadership on global poverty and climate change.

 

"Whatever we achieve in the future it will be because we are standing on your shoulders," he told Mr Blair, adding he had been "proud" to serve with the prime minister and deputy prime minister.

 

Mr Blair's official spokesman said the prime minister was given a standing ovation which only ended when he left the room.

 

David Miliband later described the meeting as "extraordinary", as he apologised to Commons Speaker Michael Martin for his late arrival in the chamber for environment questions.

 

"I hope you will allow me to thank you and the House for allowing me to be a few minutes late for today's question time given the extraordinary nature of the Cabinet meeting that's been happening," the environment secretary told Mr Martin.

 

"The tolerance of the House, I'm sure, is related to the fact that it understands it takes a very long time to enumerate all the achievements of the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister."

 

It took "still more time to cross the floods of tears that are now trailing down Downing Street", he added.

 

'Better leader'

 

Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague, for the Conservatives, said Mr Blair had "amazing" political talents and had been "good at winning elections".

 

But he added: "I think he has been a much better party leader than prime minister.

 

"He wouldn't get a standing ovation from most of the country."

 

He said Mr Brown faced a more difficult job, as he "struggles with the fact that he has been in office for the last 10 years" and "has often tried to obstruct many of the good things that Tony Blair has tried to do".

[Atticus Chaos 0]

The Bush administration is freaking out over this. They think one of Brown's first moves will be to be pull out British troops from Iraq, because it will increase his popularity and because he was never a big supporter of the war in the first place.

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

The Bush administration is freaking out over this. They think one of Brown's first moves will be to be pull out British troops from Iraq, because it will increase his popularity and because he was never a big supporter of the war in the first place.

 

OH NO NIGGA DIDN'T!

 

Seriously though, can the more esteemed British posters explain to us what Blair's legacy is, and what's expected of the man taking over?

[Vanhalen 0]

The man taking over has had a weird relationship with Blair, they both went for the leaders job back in 1994, Brown stepped down on the understanding that Blair would step aside after 1 term, which of course never happened. He has been Chancellor for the last ten years now(in charge of tax/spend of the government) and has done an ok job but taxes are too high, Brown is accused of plotting against Blair for many years now.

 

 

Q&A: Blair-Brown handover

Tony Blair is standing down as prime minister after 10 years in the job. Gordon Brown is to replace him. Here is a guide to the changes:

 

When is Mr Blair going?

 

Tony Blair is to step down as prime minister on 27 June. Labour's ruling National Executive Committee has gone through the process of finding a successor as Labour leader and Gordon Brown was the only contender with enough Labour MPs backing him to be considered. Mr Blair has continued as Labour leader and prime minister for the seven weeks a contest would have taken. Mr Brown took over as Labour leader on Sunday 24 June, three days before becoming PM.

 

Mr Blair has won three elections in a row. Why is he standing down?

 

When he stood for the Labour leadership in 1994, Mr Blair's close friend and rival Gordon Brown agreed to stand aside to give him a clear run, in return for a promise that power would be handed over at a future date. Then, in 2004, while under fire over Iraq and facing questions about his health after suffering heart problems, Mr Blair became the first serving prime minister to pre-announce his retirement. He said he intended to fight the next (2005) General Election, serve a full third term in office but then stand down rather than fight a fourth election. After winning the election he came under pressure from Labour MPs which ended only after Mr Blair promised last September to go within a year.

 

What will Mr Blair do before going?

 

Since announcing his departure timetable Mr Blair has been to the G8 summit, where he pushed for deals on climate change and Africa, and the EU summit where the challenge was to get agreement on a treaty to replace the troubled consitution - but a treaty that did not go so far as to mean a referendum was needed. On Saturday he visited the Pope, he is expected to make a statement to MPs on Monday on the EU summit, and to take a final prime minister's questions on Wednesday before finally stepping down as PM.

 

Who is going to succeed Tony Blair?

 

Chancellor Gordon Brown, the co-creator of New Labour. Despite sometimes stormy relations with Mr Blair and his supporters, Mr Brown did not face a challenge from within the Cabinet and his only potential challenger, John McDonnell failed to get the 45 Labour MPs need to back him and force a contest.

 

Will Brown change things as PM?

 

That remains to be seen. Mr Brown has had huge control over domestic policy over the past ten years and is credited with essentially co-creating New Labour. Opponents seek to portray him as to the left of Tony Blair, but his candidacy has been backed, in the end, by nearly all prominent Blairites.

What will Brown do as PM

 

So that's that?

 

Not quite. Deputy prime minister John Prescott has also decided to step down from his job and there was a very keenly fought contest to succeed him.

 

Who is succeeding him as deputy Labour leader?

 

Six candidates were in the race. In a tightly fought contest justice minister Harriet Harman pipped Education Secretary Alan Johnson at the post, by 50.4% to 49.6% in the fifth round of voting. The other contenders were: International Development Secretary Hilary Benn; Labour chairman Hazel Blears; backbencher Jon Cruddas and Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain.

Contender-by-contender

 

How did the vote work?

 

As with any leadership contest, the Labour electorate is divided into three sections - Labour MPs and Euro MPs; Labour Party members and members of affiliated trade unions. Each part accounts for 33% of the result. People vote using a preference system, ranking the candidates. To win, a candidate must have 50% of the vote. If that is not reached the last placed candidate drops out and their second preference reallocated, and so on, until that figure is reached. In the event it took all five rounds before anyone got 50% of the votes.

 

 

[Vanhalen 0]

And an article on Blairs legacy, both this and the above article are from www.bbc.co.uk/news

 

MAY 1997: LABOUR LANDSLIDE

 

Tony Blair enters Downing Street on a wave of goodwill after a landslide election victory, his Commons majority of 179 ending 18 years of Conservative rule. Even as he walks into Downing Street for the first time as prime minister - to be greeted by Labour supporters waving union jacks - the scale of the victory has yet to sink in. A few hours ago he had been contemplating a coalition with Paddy Ashdown's Liberal Democrats, believing he would never gain a working majority.

On This Day: Labour routs Tories in historic election

 

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NOVEMBER 1997: ECCLESTONE AFFAIR

 

Mr Blair's popularity soars to unprecedented heights for a British prime minister in the immediate aftermath of his election victory. The Ecclestone affair is the first significant bump in the road - and a foretaste of the spin and party funding crises that would later engulf his premiership. He is accused of granting favours to Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone - exempting the sport from a tobacco ad ban - in exchange for a £1m Labour donation. After handing the cash back he insists in a BBC interview: "I am a pretty straight sort of a guy."

Blair apologises for mishandling F1 row

Transcript: Blair's Ecclestone meeting

 

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SEPTEMBER 2000: FUEL CRISIS

 

The first national emergency of Mr Blair's premiership and the most serious dip in his popularity to this point. And it comes out of a clear blue sky. Panic buying of petrol and food threatens to bring the country to a halt after tanker drivers blockade oil refineries in protest at soaring diesel prices. Mr Blair returns from Hull - where he has been celebrating the 30th anniversary of John Prescott's entry into politics - to go into talks with oil companies, ministers and the police in a bid to find a solution. William Hague's Conservatives briefly overtake Labour in the polls.

In depth: Fuel protests

 

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FEBRUARY 2001: FOOT-AND-MOUTH

 

A dark pall hangs over the final months of Mr Blair's first term in office, as the smoke from burning cattle and sheep carcasses drifts across a land blighted by foot-and-mouth disease. The crisis has taken Blair by surprise and ministers come in for heavy criticism for failing to bring it under control earlier. The general election - planned for May - has to be delayed amid continuing travel restrictions in rural areas.

In Depth: Foot-and-mouth

 

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JUNE 2001: SECOND LANDSLIDE

 

Despite a foot-and-mouth-delayed election, Mr Blair achieves a second landslide, with a virtually unchanged majority - although his personal popularity is not what it was in 1997. It has been a dull campaign - enlivened only by Mr Blair's deputy John Prescott punching a voter who threw an egg at him. But unlike 1997, there are few celebrations at Labour HQ, as Mr Blair - chastened by media stories about spin and public service failures - vows to "do the things we promised to do".

In Depth: 2001 election

 

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SEPTEMBER 2001: 9/11 TERROR ATTACKS

 

Mr Blair is preparing to deliver a speech to the TUC conference in Brighton when the first plane flies into the World Trade Center. Nothing will be the same for him again. His personal poll ratings soar in the immediate aftermath of the attacks on New York and Washington, as he rushes to US President George W Bush side, offering UK support for reprisal attacks on Afghanistan. It is the first act in a global "war on terror" that will dominate the rest of his time in office.

We share grief, Blair tells US

In Depth: America's day of terror

 

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MARCH 2003: IRAQ INVASION

 

Another key turning point in the Blair premiership. Mr Blair fails to secure a second UN resolution authorising an invasion of Iraq, but wins Commons backing for military action - despite a rebellion by 139 Labour MPs. Two days later Operation Iraqi Freedom begins with air strikes on Baghdad. Mr Blair insists British ground troops must be fully committed, rather than in the supporting role offered by the US on the eve of war.

Blair wins war backing amid revolt

 

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SEPTEMBER 2003: HUTTON INQUIRY

 

The inner workings of Mr Blair's government are laid bare in merciless detail during autumn 2003's Hutton inquiry. The inquiry was sparked by the apparent suicide of government weapons scientist Dr David Kelly, who had been identified as the source of a BBC story claiming the government had "sexed up" a dossier on Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction. But when Lord Hutton publishes his report it is the BBC, and not Mr Blair, which takes the lion's share of the blame - ending speculation Mr Blair would be forced to resign.

Blair gives Hutton evidence

In Depth: The Hutton inquiry

 

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MAY 2005: THIRD TERM WON

 

An historic third successive election victory for Mr Blair. But his majority is reduced to from 167 in 2001 to 66. He promises to learn lessons from this - and the fact that he has the lowest share of the popular vote of any prime minister in history. He promises to "focus relentlessly" on the key issues affecting the public.

In Depth: 2005 election

 

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JULY 2005: LONDON BOMBINGS

 

The most dramatic 24 hours of Blair's premiership. Jubilation over London winning the right to host the 2012 Olympics turns to horror as the city suffers multiple suicide attacks on its transport system. Three explosions occur on the Underground and one on a bus, killing 52 people. In a statement, Mr Blair says: "It is a very sad day for the British people but we will hold true to the British way of life." His popularity climbs as the nation looks to him for leadership.

Blair hails UK's Olympic victory

Blair says 'terror will not win'

In Depth: London attacks

 

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NOVEMBER 2005: FIRST COMMONS DEFEAT

 

New anti-terror laws came thick and fast in the wake of the 7 July attacks - but proposals to extend the length of time suspects can be held without charge to 90 days prove too much for many Labour MPs. He suffers his first Commons defeat as prime minister over the plans, with 49 Labour rebels voting against the government. Mr Blair says he hopes they "do not rue the day" they rejected his plans. Tory leader Michael Howard calls for his resignation.

Blair defeated over terror laws

 

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DECEMBER 2006: CASH FOR HONOURS

 

Mr Blair becomes the first serving prime minister to be interviewed by police as part of a criminal inquiry. Scotland Yard has been probing allegations that peerages were "sold" to wealthy individuals in exchange for party loans since March 2006. The prime minister is interviewed for a second time in January but the inquiry appears to be focusing on four members of his inner circle. No-one has been charged and all deny any wrongdoing. But ministers ruefully acknowledge the damage the affair is doing to the government.

Blair questioned in honours probe

Q&A: Cash for honours

Honours row: Who's who

 

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SEPTEMBER 2006: ANNOUNCES DEPARTURE

 

He did not want it to end this way. Mr Blair made that perfectly plain as he finally bowed to weeks of pressure - culminating in a string of ministerial resignations - to name a departure date. He would be gone within a year, he told reporters on a visit to a London primary school - but in a final act of defiance to those calling for his head he refuses to name a precise date. "I would have preferred to do this in my own way," he admits.

[Atticus Chaos 0]

The Bush administration is freaking out over this. They think one of Brown's first moves will be to be pull out British troops from Iraq, because it will increase his popularity and because he was never a big supporter of the war in the first place.

 

OH NO NIGGA DIDN'T!

 

Seriously though, can the more esteemed British posters explain to us what Blair's legacy is, and what's expected of the man taking over?

 

 

Blair: A charismatic PM whose reputation was permanently ruined by the Iraq war. It's become a joke in some circles that he's Bush's poodle. Personally, I think he jumped before he was pushed by......

 

Brown: Less charismatic or flashy, but percieved as a competent and hard working guy. He's waited ten years for the job and specualtion is that he'll do everything to keep it. He knows the dangers of being seen to be too supportive of George Bush. Likes to do things his way, but has lately shown that he's willing to listen to others (even offering a top job to a liberal democrat in his new government)

 

Also, apparently things got pretty ugly between him and Tony towards the end. From what I gather Tony said he would reign two terms then step down and hand over to Brown . Then he changed his mind and went for a third. After this, him and Brown never saw eye to eye and Brown was said to freqeuntly say to him "I no longer trust anything you say". Blair was actually making plans to remove him, egged on by his wife (who really hates Brown), but he was needed for the 3rd election so he stayed. As mentioned, Tony was basically forced to go, or face a takeover from Brown and his supporters (after Iraq he was very unpopular within his own party)

[Murmuring Beast 0]

Blair will be remember for Iraq, just like Maggie is remembered for her allignment with Ronnie Raygun, the miner strikes, and the Falklands. Likewise, no one remembers (or knows) what the hell Churchill did before World War II.

[Vanhalen 0]

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[Atticus Chaos 0]

I think Brown will remove the troops from Iraq within the first 100 or so days. While currently popular with voters, he's facing a general election at some point in the next two years against a rejuvinated conservative party led by David Cameron, who are narrowing the gap in the polls. Given the unpopulariy of the war, the best thing he could do for himself is bring the troops home.

 

And, really, what does he have gain by appeasing Dubya? He knows there will be a new president next year and that President isn't likely to hold the withdraw of UK troops against him, especially if him/her is a democrat .

[Guest Vitamin X]

That's good. I always liked Tony Blair, but fresh blood is good to have in government as well.

 

If the UK can bring their troops home, I sincerely hope that can set a precedent for everyone else to follow suit. The last thing the U.S. military needs is to be fighting even more alone overseas, and take more casualties than they already are in a pointless conflict.