Tony Blair resigning as of June 27

Tony Blair announced his resignation. What are your thoughts on that and who is going to replace him?

It's ten years too late!



Gordon 'rob the English to pay the Scots' Brown

At least when Churchill was a warmonger our survival was at stake, Blair is just a self-serving warmonger who has caused more terrorism than he has prevented.
His replacement will be another self-server but more interested in plundering UK pockets than Iraqi oil.
In the next election I would like a hung parliament, but I don't think we have enough rope...

The "Cheeky Girls" they'd get my vote for PM...

Noooooooo Dec. That would mean that Lemsip Opik might become deputy PM. I'd rather have Presc... hmm maybe not but you know what I mean. :)

I know i know, i just can't help myself....... :-(

Blair is an insult to British New Labour.

Hello Miranda,
My first thought on hearing the news was wonderful no more lies but then reality hit and I realised theres no such thing as an honest politician so I lost all enthusiasam for the subject until I noticed your 2nd question as to who will replace him my choice as we've got so used over the years to having our country run by George Bush's poodle maybe we should stick with the status quo and invite Barney over he'd do a far better job than Gordon in my opinion :)
take care
Andrew

who are they?

Hey Dec - have you got a bet on that you can get the cheeky girls on 100 threads in less than 2 days? If so and the odds are 5-1 or longer I'll have a tenner on.

you should see the trouble i'm having trying to keep them on thread too, ha...oops bye bye Blair... phewww!!

Chortle, chortle,chortle (LOL is soooo last season don't you think)

Aplologies but I've just come out of a 2 hour meeting with the luvvies from Corporate Communications. You know the sort - all air brushes and air kisses. MWaaah Daaahling

AHHH my pet hate, my last girlfiend in Canada sold art, and all the horrid missed kisses i had to endure at every opening, with cheap wine and pretentiousness... i do understand.. I think Boris Johnson would be an excellent PM

Good choice. There might be a few more international incidents but life would be more fun.

Note to admin - all this talk of luvvies and pretentious behaviour is in fact on topic because the last 10 years of British politics has been just that.

I think Tony Blair was one of the most influencial PM's in a long time, bringing devolution to Scotland, a Welsh assembly and not to mention the North of Ireland! its not the United Kingsom anymore, rather Great Britain sure but England, N. Ireland Scotland & Wales

Sorry Miranda. In my defence I can say that this subject has been in the news for over a year now. We've been inundated with the stories and the possible future directions for so long it has ceased to hold our attention. Having said that, of course, you won't have known that. So I will try to be serious for a few moments.

Firstly, the last months of Tony Blair's 'reign' have been a thinly disguised attempt to portray him as a great leader who has a marvellous legacy. Blair has always wanted to be seen in the same light as Margaret Thatcher - a great national leader who made a difference both at home and abroad. You could argue that Thatcher had that status, particularly in the eyes of the rest of the world. She was either loved or loathed at home though. Her legacy of turning the UK from a lame economic duck into a revitalised economy cannot be argued against. The social costs to our nation from her period in office are often criticised. Tony Blair is almost desperate for similar acclaim.

If you look back to the early news of 'New' Labour Blair presided upon a more centre ground of socialist policy. In many ways there was little difference between the Tories and Labour. Labour moved to the right to attract 'middle Englan' whne the Tory party was in disarray. They were fighting amongst themselves and had lost the plot in terms of policies and direction. The Blair years were to provide economic stability but not at the expense of large increases in the taxation burden, improved public services (especially in the areas of healthcare, education and emergency services) and protection of the less able and vulnerable sections of our community. The Blair 'machine' also gave us our first real taste of US style leadership in terms of the use of the media. The term 'spinning' soon became well known to us. We got to understand sound bites and simplified messages.

I don't think many of my countrymen and women would have much to diagree with what I have written so far. No doubt some will disagree with my precis of his achievements that follows, although I'm sure we will all agree that Iraq was and still is a disaster.

I think Labour have done an OK job but no more than any other governemnet would have done. The taxation burden has increased by stealth with little fiddles here and there. The headlines rates of personal taxation have not increased a lot and for many have fallen. But if you are 'comfortably' off the tax burden has increased in other ways. At the same time our public borrowing requirement has risen. Normally this has happened when taxes are falling. Bottom line is we have stored up problems for the future. The record on public services is, I believe, appalling. No one could argue that they have pumped billion of pounds into them but this money has not been invested wisely. We have wasted most of this investment in my view. I know this will be contentious to some but I am more than happy to argue this one out from my own knowledge of the health sector in particular. The other leagcy of the Blair years is one that was never included in any manifesto: we have effectively an open door policy for immigration from outside of the EU. This has had an impact upon our services, our infrastructure and in some cases lead to an increase in crime and terrorist activity. Like I have said many times here I welcome controlled immigration as it benefits our culture and our economy.

As for his successor, it will be Gordon Brown. They made a succession pact some time ago. I happen to dislike the guy even more than Blair and sincerely hope that Labour lose the next election. I do not trust Mr Brown one inch. The sad fact is that our opposition parties are still very weak so maybe he will win next time.

Again apologies for ruining your thread.

Its about time Bliar screwed the pooch, but Im not rejoicing because Browns just as much on an arsehat.

To screw the pooch means to make a gross error or to fail in some catastrophic way. To be honest, he's been doing that for a long time. They don't call him Teflon Tony for nothing.

We don't fry eggs on a shovel for nothing Peter, excluding the nutritional value obviously. :)

"In 1975, the Government faced a dilemma: how to exploit the potential of its new oil fields without fuelling demands for Scottish independence. So it buried the evidence"
news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article331945.ece
"An independent Scotland's budget surpluses as a result of the oil boom, wrote Professor McCrone, would be so large as to be "embarrassing"."

In Scotland they call themselves "Scottish Labour " to get more votes.

Congratulations to the Scottish Nationalists on their recent election win, campaigning for Scottish Independence.

Ahh the PRT issue. Of course we ripped the Scots off then but the oil's gone now. It's just that that was in the open. To be honest mate I don't begrudge the Scots getting some of my money. I just hate Gordon Brown cos I think he's a scheming, manipulative, lying Twat.

I blame the numpties that decided to mess with the regiments for the SNP thing.

Never annoy of the ladies from Hell. It's more than a handbag around the back of the head you're in for.

Perfectly qualified for the job then ;-)

He would tax smilies if we had them.

lol

maybe that's why they've gone



Would that be the Cheeky Girls and their terrifying mother by chance Hueg?

Who's going to replace Tony Blair? ....Gordon Brown - the guy who was in charge of the fanancial affairs of the UK .....and look what happened there.

My opinion is that when Gordon Brown takes over,it wont be any different because it appears that they are the two cheeks of the same arse.

The farewell speech Tony Blair made i found very cynical.To be honest i think hes a good man with his heart in the right place but he made some bad mistakes.
To begin with the Labour goverment for the first five years was governing the country very well,being very careful how money was spent making sure they did not make the mistakes what the labour goverment are famous for of the 1970's.....then the last five years in office it seems they gathered all the money the could muster and went wild on things like Public Transport that is still overcharged still as bad - the NHS got second best and not fogetting....the Iraq war.
And its the latter,that he will mostly be rememberd for especially to the families,who lost there relatives.

So now he's going to USA to kiss George Bush goodbye,just like you see in those old films with a hissy soundtrack.

Maybe we need another Margaret Thather,but not so extreme.
I would be suprised to see then still in goverment after next general election.

No doubt we will see what happends.

Jay, although this is highly likely to happen.. I think its important to say that it is still to be decided.

hope it come the BNP

well they might get rid of the spaniards too so you better get packing

i m not talking of rid nobady ,,,please accept my comment and be tolerant please!!!!!

While i'm sure there are parallels not in this instance.

<thinks>

Could you pass the salt Mrs Cheeky.

All singing: He wants to add some salt,
He wants to add some salt,
We're going to pass the salt.
We're going to pass the salt
Mother Solo: Are you saying my cookings bad.... <loses will to live>

No think more Private Widdle, 3rd Foot in Mouth Regiment.

BNP ? - You must be joking !!! Its a party that has a bad reputation....If they get voted in,you might as well go back 20 years - reinstate the Berlin wall.

And what about the UK entry for the Eurovision song contest? it was so bad.



Your right sapphire but at the moment,there isnt anyone standing against Gordon Brown.
But we are not spoilt for choice.Theres always.....David Cameron.