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Post by glenn_uk on Sept 7, 2006 18:47:28 GMT -5
Comrades,
Great to have a column and room here. Give me a reason to earn it. Any question you have about the UK/ Europe and perspective outside the US give me a shout.
My perspective is from someone who's lived in the US, visited most of the states, loves the people and the land but pretty much hates the US government.
If you've got a wide-ranging question, I'll take that as a suggestion for an up-coming column.
Writing for you is what I'm here for. So please - let me know what you want to hear.
Thanks!
-Glenn.
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Post by PHILIP RACUEL on Sept 7, 2006 20:37:17 GMT -5
Here is one- what do you make of Blair's announcement that he will resign within a year?
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Post by glenn_uk on Sept 8, 2006 12:33:11 GMT -5
Hello Philip,
Thanks for the question.
Blair has been forced into promising to go because of his -deep- unpopularity both in the Labour party and with the country at large. This is chiefly over the Iraq occupation, but there's a very long list of other disgruntlements.
He made the promise before the last election that he would not seek another term, and would go before the end of a new term, if re-elected.
This did take some sting out of the anti-Blair lobby, because at least some end would be in sight. It would not be necessary to throw out "New" Labour altogether just to get rid of him. However, it left him in a weak position - from the moment he stated that he'd leave, he became a sort-of lame duck prime minister. He's constantly asked when he's going.
Can't leave his resignation right up to the end of this term (around May 2009) because that wouldn't give his successor long enough to settle in and prove him/herself to the electorate. It cannot come too soon for his likely successor, Gordon Brown - currently chancellor of the exchequer (in charge of the treasury).
Gordon Brown and Blair had a deal, before Labour came to power in 1997. This deal involved Blair going after just a few years. Blair found he liked power, however, and decided to stay on. Now he's trying to legislatively tie the hands of his successors so his plans won't get changed, much to the fury of everyone concerned.
It's no secret that Blair and Brown - once good friends - now hate each other. The two camps regularly have "insiders" who brief against each other (sending anonymous dirt about the other to the press).
Blair has had an insider announce he'll go next year at this time. That has not stopped the pressure, and Blair's camp is furious that the Brown camp has not come back and said, fair enough, a year will do.
I feel he'll be gone by next May definitely (party conference), or maybe by Christmas if we're lucky. But the obituary for the last PM, John Major, was written too early hundreds of times.
Blair won't now beat Thatcher's record. That is what he'd been hoping for.
All the best,
Glenn.
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