Blair's Best Bits

In an earlier post I commented that Tony Blair's memoirs - 'A Journey' - were a good read for anyone with an interest in UK politics.

Here are some of his best bits.

On the recession


Blair pulls no punches - it's not just the banks that caused financial meltdown and let the country down - but the various regulators and politicians who fell asleep on the job - including the last Labour government.

On the unions

Blair concedes that union bosses thought of him as a Conservative in Labour clothing - whereas he saw them as conservatives wearing labour clothes. In other words, true defenders of the status quo - paid up members of the Labour party, but conservatives with a small 'c' nonetheless.

On public services

Blair regards the public services as a noble cause - full of hard working and dedicated people - but dominated by vested interests, often those with the loudest voices. Services users and consumers should have much more say in shaping the future - choice is a good not a bad thing.

When he was elected as Labour leader, Blair swept all before him - scoring a clear majority in all three sections of the party's 'electoral college' - before going on to win three successive general elections.

Love him or hate him - Tony Blair casts a long shadow over British politics - and the Labour party in particular.


As Labour and the unions try and define themselves in a new political landscape - they should be asking themselves - why was Blair such a winner compared to other party leaders?

Popular posts from this blog

SNP - Conspiracy of Silence

LGB Rights - Hijacked By Intolerant Zealots!