Tony Blair - Have Your Say

[DHP]

Well, our current Prime Minister announced officially what's been referred to as the worst-kept secret in British politics today - that he would be stepping down. Now that it's official, I thought it would be good to see what people thought of him and his premiereship as a whole. Not just Iraq (which is obviously what he'll be remembered for), but as regards the economy, health, current hot-topic global warming, the aftermaths of Princess Diana's death and 9/11, his relationship with the EU, the Good Friday Agreement, Afghanistan... there are probably more issues to be considered, but overall, when they're all weighed against each other, what did you think of his time in power?

[CatNamedRudy]

Not living there and only knowing him through his international dealings, I voted "Indifferent".

I liked him in his early years. He was well respected around the world and I know he was very well respected here in the US. He seemed like a guy who was able to hold his own with the best of them and he worked well with Bill Clinton. I never got the idea he was rolling over and playing dead when he was dealing with Clinton but was more of an equal with him.

Then he became Bush's lap dog and I lost a lot of respect for him. For some reason, he felt the need to roll over and play dead when dealing with Bush. I don't know why!

[Wezzo]

One of Britain's finest elected officials. By quite a way.

What's your opinion, DHP?

[Cake for Brains]

I'm not particularly glad to see the back of him, but I could never call him 'one of Britain's finest elected officials', obviously because of Iraq but also because I don't really have enough knowledge of politics to compare him to anyone else. He is a great speechmaker, and practically oozes charm and charisma, but there are things that he's done that stop me going for the first option. So, it'll have to be 'indifferent', even though I did feel a bit sad and strange at dinner time watching his resignation speech.

So, let's see how Blair will face in the Frasier Online vote... can he win another election here?

[Wezzo]

BBC News have an excellent article called The Blair Story which I recommend.

[Mayday Malone]

Indifferent, though I tend to get rather Ian Hislop-esque when talking about him. Ten years, my God two less than Hitler.

[Davey Boy]

I'm not particularly glad to see the back of him, but I could never call him 'one of Britain's finest elected officials', obviously because of Iraq but also because I don't really have enough knowledge of politics to compare him to anyone else. He is a great speechmaker, and practically oozes charm and charisma, but there are things that he's done that stop me going for the first option. So, it'll have to be 'indifferent', even though I did feel a bit sad and strange at dinner time watching his resignation speech.

So, let's see how Blair will face in the Frasier Online vote... can he win another election here?

Pretty much agreeing with Cakey here. I would have liked to have an option somewhere in between the top 2. I think my overall decisio on him will probably be made years into the future. When he came in to power I was 10 so I've learnt about politics whilst he has been in power. Once I've lived with a few more prime ministers I will feel better able to make an informed judgement on him.

[DHP]

One of Britain's finest elected officials. By quite a way.

What's your opinion, DHP?

I'd agree with you there. He's done a lot of good things for the country altogether.

[Rodge]

One of Britain's finest elected officials. By quite a way.

What's your opinion, DHP?

I'd agree with you there. He's done a lot of good things for the country altogether.

I take it you are planning to become a Doctor yeah!

[Rodge]

The only "fine" thing about Blair is the fine line he walks between spin & downright falsehoods

[Mayday Malone]

I think it's a bit of a stretch to say he's one of the finest elected officials. If that was the case then maybe Thatcher was.

[Rodge]

I think it's a bit of a stretch to say he's one of the finest elected officials. If that was the case then maybe Thatcher was.

I a poll carried out a few years ago, (I believe in the Independant Newspaper) Thatcher came 4th in the best PM's and Blair came second from last. I don't think he has done much in the past few years to improve on that. It makes me laugh that he is the one claiming to have brought peace in NI - that really is clutching at straws. I realise that Mo Mowlem was part of his Govt at the time, but she did all the hard work and was then sacked for all her efforts so that he could then take alll the glory. He is cheap and false. Yes Maggie had some major flaws, but at least she was true to her beliefs. Blair has been fake for all ten years.

[Moon-Crane]

It's hard to grade him with only Margaret Thatcher to compare to within my lifetime - although a majority here can't even do that, i imagine.

Churchill always seems to be the ultimate benchmark but I always have issues about using him, because of the wartime situation.

He hasn't had a boom and bust economy, in spite of heavy pressures caused by property, and inflation has remained relatively steady. It's easy to complain about the state of the NHS or pensions, etc, but that timebomb has been an accident waiting to happen for years before he was in power.

Iraq will always fall hand in hand with his reign, and that's the main mistake I believe he made. I genuinely believe there could have been a lot worse people in charge, but i wish he could have taken some authoratitive stance on cutting away some cabinet members who did wrong, but always managed to find their way back in to ministerial jobs. And anyone who can let a buffoon like Two Jags keep the role he had, automatically loses points.

i guess he won't create as much polar view of his time as, say Thatcher, but I do think, aside from Iraq, he'll be fondly remembered, in the main.

[DHP]

It's hard to grade him with only Margaret Thatcher to compare to within my lifetime - although a majority here can't even do that, i imagine.

I know it's easy to do so, but don't forget John Major. He came between Thatcher and Blair.

[Wezzo]

I a poll carried out a few years ago, (I believe in the Independant Newspaper) Thatcher came 4th in the best PM's and Blair came second from last.

People are fickle and they'll always complain about 'the current lot'. I don't think Blair is anywhere near the worst PM of all-time.

[Mayday Malone]

A poll also revealed in some other paper that Clement Atlee was the all time greatest PM. Something one of my lecturers would not dispute.

[Rodge]

A poll also revealed in some other paper that Clement Atlee was the all time greatest PM. Something one of my lecturers would not dispute.

Yeah, well he was the total opposite of Blair as a Labour leader. Attlee was a far more modest man and with a hell of a lot less showmanship.

Those were the days when Labour meant Labour

[Mayday Malone]

I'm sure my Grandad would agree, having been a Labourite since the late 30's. I think he didn't vote in 05 for the first time in his life.

[Rodge]

I'm sure my Grandad would agree, having been a Labourite since the late 30's. I think he didn't vote in 05 for the first time in his life.

That's because there wasn't a Labour Party to vote for in '05

[DHP]

I'm not particularly glad to see the back of him, but I could never call him 'one of Britain's finest elected officials', obviously because of Iraq but also because I don't really have enough knowledge of politics to compare him to anyone else. He is a great speechmaker, and practically oozes charm and charisma, but there are things that he's done that stop me going for the first option. So, it'll have to be 'indifferent', even though I did feel a bit sad and strange at dinner time watching his resignation speech.

So, let's see how Blair will face in the Frasier Online vote... can he win another election here?

Pretty much agreeing with Cakey here. I would have liked to have an option somewhere in between the top 2. I think my overall decisio on him will probably be made years into the future. When he came in to power I was 10 so I've learnt about politics whilst he has been in power. Once I've lived with a few more prime ministers I will feel better able to make an informed judgement on him.

Yeah, sorry about the lack of choice. I was going to do it with 5 options, but felt it was probably clearer with just three. Read it as the first option = good (and all variations), 2nd option = well, indifferent, 3rd option = bad (and all variations).

[Mayday Malone]

Hmm, looking at these posts I'm sure like me that a few others have lived through the three PM's...Thatcher (85-92), Major and of course Blair.
Stack that against my grandparents who have lived through at least...what, a 10-12 PM's and at least three monarchs...
Wait until I get two more PM's under my belt before saying anything further.

[Moon-Crane]

It's hard to grade him with only Margaret Thatcher to compare to within my lifetime - although a majority here can't even do that, i imagine.

I know it's easy to do so, but don't forget John Major. He came between Thatcher and Blair.

sorry for missing him out - it was a little unfair. Cheers DHP.

[Mr Blue Sky]

It's hard to grade him with only Margaret Thatcher to compare to within my lifetime - although a majority here can't even do that, i imagine.

Churchill always seems to be the ultimate benchmark but I always have issues about using him, because of the wartime situation.

He hasn't had a boom and bust economy, in spite of heavy pressures caused by property, and inflation has remained relatively steady. It's easy to complain about the state of the NHS or pensions, etc, but that timebomb has been an accident waiting to happen for years before he was in power.

Iraq will always fall hand in hand with his reign, and that's the main mistake I believe he made. I genuinely believe there could have been a lot worse people in charge, but i wish he could have taken some authoratitive stance on cutting away some cabinet members who did wrong, but always managed to find their way back in to ministerial jobs. And anyone who can let a buffoon like Two Jags keep the role he had, automatically loses points.

i guess he won't create as much polar view of his time as, say Thatcher, but I do think, aside from Iraq, he'll be fondly remembered, in the main.

That won't last much longer. I expect Brown to be plagued by high inflation for his 3 years at the helm.

[DHP]

Something that's been quoted a lot from his announcement is that he may have made mistakes, but always tried to do the right thing. I think that was probably true.

[me123]

I'd go for both the top and the bottom! So I elected for indifferent. He was quite good, but made many fatal errors, and forgot about his local constituancy. Iraq was a shambles, and the lives lost cannot be forgotten.