Tony Blair announces his departure date

[Marks]

Tony Blair has announced he will resign as Prime Minister on June 27, saying ten years is "long enough" in a speech at his Sedgefield constituency.

It is the first move in the political process likely to see Chancellor Gordon Brown entering Number 10 in seven weeks time.

Mr Blair informed his Cabinet team of his resignation before flying to County Durham where he arrived to throngs of supporters at Trimdon Labour Club with wife Cherie.

In an emotional speech he said: "On the 27th of June I will tender my resignation from the post of Prime Minister to the Queen."

He added: "I have been Prime Minister of this country for just over ten years. In this job, in the world today, I think that is long enough for me, but more especially for the country."

He hinted that the issue of Iraq had come to dominate the last few years of his leadership and said: "I tell you one thing: hand on heart, I did what I thought was right."

"I may have been wrong, that's your call. But believe one thing, if nothing else I did what I thought was right for our country."

He conceded that expectations when Labour gloriously swept to power in 1997 were "so high, too high probably, too high".

He added: "And now, in 2007, you can easily point to the challenges or the things that are wrong or the grievances that fester."

But he asked the audience to "go back to 1997, think back - no really think back. Think about your own living standards then in 1997 and now".

To massive applause, he boasted: "There is only one government since 1945 that can say all of the following: more jobs; fewer unemployed; better health and education results; lower crime; and economic growth in every quarter.

"Only one government - this one."

He concluded: "I give my thanks to you, the British people for the times that I have succeeded and my apologies for the times I have fallen short. But good luck."

Just moments after Mr Blair finished speaking John Prescott formally announced his intention to stand down as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party in an open letter to his constituency party.

It said: "Tony and I were elected together back in 1994 and it has been an honour to serve as Deputy to the most successful Labour Prime Minister ever.

"To have been Deputy Leader and the longest-serving Deputy Prime Minister is a matter of great pride to me."

Source: Virgin Media

 

[Blue]

I watched his speech this morning.
In reality he was probably a very good leader who took England into the next generation in a very clear and noble way.
Also in reality though, he will be remembered, at least by people on this side of the world, as a George Bush pony who sold his soul to be associated with one of the most corrupt and criminal war mongers of our time.

 

[Galaxy-Hosts]

I watched his speech this morning.
In reality he was probably a very good leader who took England into the next generation in a very clear and noble way.
Also in reality though, he will be remembered, at least by people on this side of the world, as a George Bush pony who sold his soul to be associated with one of the most corrupt and criminal war mongers of our time.

That may be true short term, but a generation from now his name will be mentioned next to Winston Churchill. They will be the Prime Ministers who reconized tyranny, and a threat to their country. They will be the leaders that realized appeasement never works and only enboldems enemies. They will be the leaders that confronted the threats to perserve freedom and end the evil that threatened their country.

 

[accuurrtt]

I think Tony Blair is a great politician that left a noticeable trace in the history of the present-day Britain.

 

[pmhoran]

Mr. Blair will be credited for making a lot of very good decisions during his 10 years. And for his efforts in helping to bring peace to Northern Ireland.

But ... agreeing to invade Iraq with the USA will always remain as a "black mark" against him. And it will probably be front & center when discussing his accomplishments for many years to come.

In my opinion though ... over all ... his pluses far outshine his minuses. Except for Iraq ... I feel he was the right man in the right job at the right time and did an awful lot of good for Britain.

And NO historian will EVER mention Churchill & Blair together. Because Blairs reasons for backing the USA & invading Iraq was based on nothing but lies & misinformation. But now, since they both got into this mess, they MUST see it through & finish it ... or have the the whole thing viewed by history as just "another Vietnam".

But again ... thats just my opinion.

 

[Marks]

Unfortunately his legacy will be overshadowed by the war in Iraq. Sure he did make promises he couldn't keep such as Decrease in Crime, No more incensement’s in Tax and NHS improvements though he has been criticized in Interviews by members of the public in my opinion he has served with honor and dedication and in the 21st Century done the best he can do in this world.

 

[Blue]

Tony Blair will never be compared to Winston Churchill.
Even the idea of that is absurd.

They will be the leaders that realized appeasement never works and only enboldems enemies.

Thats a wonderful right wing talking point and it is also utter rubbish, completely false.
Perhaps you can ask Tony Blair why things are so much improved with the IRA?
Was it because he "appeased" them by doing the right thing and sitting down at the negotiating table?

People from the right never seem willing to learn the lessons of history. The FACT of the matter is that all conflicts are solved by diplomacy and not by military force.

 

[Galaxy-Hosts]

Typical lefty babble.
Ah , yes it works with thugs and dictators. Hitler was a prime example. Also Clinton was so brilliant in dealing with North Korea and the Palestine mess. Talking solved those problems. It was so brilliant that the thugs were happy and went away.
Actually it only showed weakness and when the thugs got what they wanted they started demanding more. It is really just a form of blackmail. The who;e talking thing should be tried first. But if it does not work then you must move on to plan B. In the case of Iraq they had many many opportunities to live up to their end of the bargain and refused to.
The FACT is almost no conficts are solved by diplomacy alone. The enemy must realize that it is not in their interest to fight. Many times this realization comes from realizing they are getting beat. Two sane, logical people can talk and reach a solution, but a murdering, lying thug can not be reasoned with. Saddam had his chance after the first war and he went back on hs word.
Lets recap the basic facts.
1. Iraq invades Kuiwait.
2. The US and allies drive them back to their country.
3. They agreee to a cease fire that specifies they must disarm and submit to inspections to prove compliance.
4. Iraq refuses to sumbit to inspections and is in violation of the ceasefire. (This proves their was no point in talking to them as their word was worthless.)
5. After many warnings the US, and allies, invade and remove a murdering, lying, regime that endangered its own people and its neighbors. A regime that did not honor treaties. A regime that had killed hundreds of thousands of it own people.

That is all fact. The FACT is Sadam proved that it was pointless to talk to him. He had no problem going back on his word. The fact is Blair drew a line and had the courage to enforce it. The fact is Blair did not appease a murdering tyrant and actually dealt with the problem.

 

[Blue]

Let's really recap the FACTS.
Blair is resigning in embarrassment. HE WILL NEVER BE COMPARED TO CHURCHILL OR ANY OTHER SIGNIFICANT LEADER.
He failed in his leadership PERIOD.
He could have been a great leader but he chose to cowtow to the failed bush policies.


You can talk bull about diplomacy not working but you have NOTHING to back that nonsense up. Just typical right wing bull****.
Your five little points are relevant to the first war in Iraq which was lost by the US. What does that have to do with the current FAILED conflict?????????
Blair and Bush FAILED. Saddam is gone and the situation is FAR FAR worse.
You can try to sugar coat it and tell all of the right wing lies and right wing talking points you like. At the end of the day you are a joke and a sucker for believing this propaganda.