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?
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?
