Tony Blair/Timelines: Difference between revisions
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1983 | ==1983== | ||
Elected as Labour MP for Sedgefield, in general election won by Margaret Thatcher's Conservative Party. | Elected as Labour MP for Sedgefield, in general election won by Margaret Thatcher's Conservative Party. | ||
1984 to 1987 | ==1984 to 1987== | ||
New Labour party leader Neil Kinnock appoints Blair as Assistant Spokesman on Treasury matters. Blair aligns himself with the reformers within the party. | New Labour party leader Neil Kinnock appoints Blair as Assistant Spokesman on Treasury matters. Blair aligns himself with the reformers within the party. | ||
1987 | ==1987== | ||
Appointed Deputy spokesman for Trade and Industry. | Appointed Deputy spokesman for Trade and Industry. | ||
==1988== | |||
October | October | ||
Elected as shadow secretary of state for energy. | Elected as shadow secretary of state for energy. | ||
1989 | ==1989== | ||
Member of the National Executive Committee of the Labour party. | Elected Member of the National Executive Committee of the Labour party. | ||
1992 | ==1992== | ||
Promoted to shadow Home Secretary by new Labour Leader John Smith. Blair pledges that his party would be tough on crime and on the causes of crime. | Promoted to shadow Home Secretary by new Labour Leader John Smith. Blair pledges that his party would be tough on crime and on the causes of crime. | ||
12 May | ==1994== | ||
12 May: | |||
John Smith dies of a heart attack. | John Smith dies of a heart attack. | ||
31 May | 31 May: | ||
Tony Blair and and Gordon Brown meet at the ''Granita'' restaurant in Islington, London, and reportedly agree a deal about the leadership of the Labour Party. | Tony Blair and and Gordon Brown meet at the ''Granita'' restaurant in Islington, London, and reportedly agree a deal about the leadership of the Labour Party. | ||
1 June | 1 June: | ||
Gordon Brown rules himself out of leadership race. | Gordon Brown rules himself out of leadership race. | ||
21 July | 21 July: | ||
Tony Blair beats John Prescott and Margaret Beckett to become leader of the Labour Party. | Tony Blair beats John Prescott and Margaret Beckett to become leader of the Labour Party. | ||
October | October | ||
Blair makes his first party conference speech as leader. | Blair makes his first party conference speech as leader. | ||
April | ==1995== | ||
April: | |||
The Labour Party backs rewriting of Clause IV. | The Labour Party backs rewriting of Clause IV. | ||
March | ==1997== | ||
March | |||
The ''Sun'' newspaper announces that it will back Blair at the general election. | The ''Sun'' newspaper announces that it will back Blair at the general election. | ||
1 May | 1 May: | ||
Labour wins the general election by a landslide (419 of 659 seats). At 44, Tony Blair becomes the second-youngest British prime minister. | Labour wins the general election by a landslide (419 of 659 seats). At 44, Tony Blair becomes the second-youngest British prime minister. | ||
| Line 57: | Line 60: | ||
Blair meets Gerry Adams, the head of Sinn Fein, the political wing of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). | Blair meets Gerry Adams, the head of Sinn Fein, the political wing of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). | ||
==1998== | |||
April | April: | ||
Blair negotiates the Belfast Agreement ("The Good Friday Agreement") creating a power-sharing assembly in Northern Ireland. | Blair negotiates the Belfast Agreement ("The Good Friday Agreement") creating a power-sharing assembly in Northern Ireland. | ||
May | May: | ||
Referendum to create a new assembly for London and establish direct elections for mayor. | Referendum to create a new assembly for London and establish direct elections for mayor. | ||
Britain, as part of NATO, joins in the Kosovo war. Britain keeps thousands of troops there as part of a peacekeeping force. | Britain, as part of NATO, joins in the Kosovo war. Britain keeps thousands of troops there as part of a peacekeeping force. | ||
4 May | ==2000== | ||
4 May | |||
Labour rebel Ken Livingstone wins the first London Mayor election. | Labour rebel Ken Livingstone wins the first London Mayor election. | ||
20 May | 20 May: | ||
Leo Blair is born; the first child born to a sitting Prime Minister for more than 150 years. | Leo Blair is born; the first child born to a sitting Prime Minister for more than 150 years. | ||
==2001== | |||
June | June: | ||
Labour wins another landslide general election, winning 413 of the 659 seats in the House of Commons, but the voter turnout is only 59 per cent. Conservative leader William Hague swifly resigns. | Labour wins another landslide general election, winning 413 of the 659 seats in the House of Commons, but the voter turnout is only 59 per cent. Conservative leader William Hague swifly resigns. | ||
September | September: | ||
After the Sept. 11 attacks on the USA, Blair emerges as the strongest ally of President Bush's administration, supporting its "war on terror." In October, British and American forces enter Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban regime and to weaken the al-Qaeda terrorist network. | After the Sept. 11 attacks on the USA, Blair emerges as the strongest ally of President Bush's administration, supporting its "war on terror." In October, British and American forces enter Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban regime and to weaken the al-Qaeda terrorist network. | ||
13 September | 13 September: | ||
Right winger Iain Duncan Smith beats Ken Clarke to replace William Hague as Conservative Party leader. | Right winger Iain Duncan Smith beats Ken Clarke to replace William Hague as Conservative Party leader. | ||
Blair unveils an intelligence dossier, and claims that it shows that Iraq could deploy banned weapons "within 45 minutes". | Blair unveils an intelligence dossier, and claims that it shows that Iraq could deploy banned weapons "within 45 minutes". | ||
==2003== | |||
Blair argues for the overthrow of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, based mainly on his alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction. | Blair argues for the overthrow of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, based mainly on his alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction. | ||
March 16 | 15 February: | ||
An estimated million people march through London to oppose war with Iraq. | |||
March 16: | |||
Blair, Bush and Spanish Premier Jose Maria Aznar announce they will seek support for military action against Iraq. | Blair, Bush and Spanish Premier Jose Maria Aznar announce they will seek support for military action against Iraq. | ||
March 19 | March 19: | ||
Britain sends 45,000 troops and joins the U.S.-led "coalition of the willing" invasion of Iraq. The Iraqi regime falls after three weeks, and British troops remain in Iraq, mainly based around Basra in the south of the country. | Britain sends 45,000 troops and joins the U.S.-led "coalition of the willing" invasion of Iraq. The Iraqi regime falls after three weeks, and British troops remain in Iraq, mainly based around Basra in the south of the country. | ||
July | July: | ||
David Kelly, a biological warfare expert with the British Ministry of Defence, is found dead of an apparent suicide. Kelly was the unnamed source of a BBC report claiming the government had "sexed up" a dossier on illegal weapons in Iraq to boost public support for the invasion. In early July, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon had exposed Kelly as the source of the BBC report. | David Kelly, a biological warfare expert with the British Ministry of Defence, is found dead of an apparent suicide. Kelly was the unnamed source of a BBC report claiming the government had "sexed up" a dossier on illegal weapons in Iraq to boost public support for the invasion. In early July, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon had exposed Kelly as the source of the BBC report. | ||
August | August: | ||
An inquiry into Kelly's death and the circumstances leading up to it begins, led by Lord Hutton. | An inquiry into Kelly's death and the circumstances leading up to it begins, led by Lord Hutton. | ||
Jan. 28 | ==2004== | ||
Jan. 28: | |||
The Hutton Report determines that Kelly took his own life, and that the BBC allegations were unfounded. The chairman and director-general of the BBC, and Andrew Gilligan, the journalist who made the allegations, all resign. | The Hutton Report determines that Kelly took his own life, and that the BBC allegations were unfounded. The chairman and director-general of the BBC, and Andrew Gilligan, the journalist who made the allegations, all resign. | ||
February | February: | ||
Blair names a panel to conduct an inquiry into pre-war intelligence, led by Lord Butler. | Blair names a panel to conduct an inquiry into pre-war intelligence, led by Lord Butler. | ||
July | July: | ||
Butler's report criticises the intelligence basis for claims that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. It says the assertion that Iraq could use weapons of mass destruction within 45 minutes was unsubstantiated. However, the report found no evidence the intelligence had been manipulated by Blair and his aides. | Butler's report criticises the intelligence basis for claims that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. It says the assertion that Iraq could use weapons of mass destruction within 45 minutes was unsubstantiated. However, the report found no evidence the intelligence had been manipulated by Blair and his aides. | ||
April 5 | ==2005== | ||
Blair calls | April 5: | ||
Blair calls a general election. | |||
May 5 | May 5: | ||
Blair becomes the first leader of the Labour party to win three consecutive terms as prime minister. The Labour Party defeats Michael Howard's Conservative Party comfortably, but with a much reduced majority overall. | |||
Revision as of 12:57, 3 August 2007
1983
Elected as Labour MP for Sedgefield, in general election won by Margaret Thatcher's Conservative Party.
1984 to 1987
New Labour party leader Neil Kinnock appoints Blair as Assistant Spokesman on Treasury matters. Blair aligns himself with the reformers within the party.
1987
Appointed Deputy spokesman for Trade and Industry.
1988
October Elected as shadow secretary of state for energy.
1989
Elected Member of the National Executive Committee of the Labour party.
1992
Promoted to shadow Home Secretary by new Labour Leader John Smith. Blair pledges that his party would be tough on crime and on the causes of crime.
1994
12 May: John Smith dies of a heart attack.
31 May: Tony Blair and and Gordon Brown meet at the Granita restaurant in Islington, London, and reportedly agree a deal about the leadership of the Labour Party.
1 June: Gordon Brown rules himself out of leadership race.
21 July: Tony Blair beats John Prescott and Margaret Beckett to become leader of the Labour Party.
October Blair makes his first party conference speech as leader.
1995
April: The Labour Party backs rewriting of Clause IV.
1997
March The Sun newspaper announces that it will back Blair at the general election.
1 May: Labour wins the general election by a landslide (419 of 659 seats). At 44, Tony Blair becomes the second-youngest British prime minister.
Blair's Chancellor, Gordon Brown grants the Bank of England the freedom to set interest rates without consulting the government.
June Britain signs the European Union's "Social Chapter"
August Tony Blair reflects the mood of the nation on the death of Princess Diana calling her "the people's princess."
September A referendum in Scotland backs devolution; a referendum in Wales follows a week later, and also backs devolution, but only narrowly.
October Gordon Brown rules out the immediate prospects of Britain joining the euro setting five key economic tests that must first be met.
Blair meets Gerry Adams, the head of Sinn Fein, the political wing of the Irish Republican Army (IRA).
1998
April: Blair negotiates the Belfast Agreement ("The Good Friday Agreement") creating a power-sharing assembly in Northern Ireland.
May: Referendum to create a new assembly for London and establish direct elections for mayor.
Britain, as part of NATO, joins in the Kosovo war. Britain keeps thousands of troops there as part of a peacekeeping force.
2000
4 May Labour rebel Ken Livingstone wins the first London Mayor election.
20 May: Leo Blair is born; the first child born to a sitting Prime Minister for more than 150 years.
2001
June: Labour wins another landslide general election, winning 413 of the 659 seats in the House of Commons, but the voter turnout is only 59 per cent. Conservative leader William Hague swifly resigns.
September: After the Sept. 11 attacks on the USA, Blair emerges as the strongest ally of President Bush's administration, supporting its "war on terror." In October, British and American forces enter Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban regime and to weaken the al-Qaeda terrorist network.
13 September: Right winger Iain Duncan Smith beats Ken Clarke to replace William Hague as Conservative Party leader.
Blair unveils an intelligence dossier, and claims that it shows that Iraq could deploy banned weapons "within 45 minutes".
2003
Blair argues for the overthrow of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, based mainly on his alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction.
15 February:
An estimated million people march through London to oppose war with Iraq.
March 16: Blair, Bush and Spanish Premier Jose Maria Aznar announce they will seek support for military action against Iraq.
March 19: Britain sends 45,000 troops and joins the U.S.-led "coalition of the willing" invasion of Iraq. The Iraqi regime falls after three weeks, and British troops remain in Iraq, mainly based around Basra in the south of the country.
July: David Kelly, a biological warfare expert with the British Ministry of Defence, is found dead of an apparent suicide. Kelly was the unnamed source of a BBC report claiming the government had "sexed up" a dossier on illegal weapons in Iraq to boost public support for the invasion. In early July, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon had exposed Kelly as the source of the BBC report.
August: An inquiry into Kelly's death and the circumstances leading up to it begins, led by Lord Hutton.
2004
Jan. 28: The Hutton Report determines that Kelly took his own life, and that the BBC allegations were unfounded. The chairman and director-general of the BBC, and Andrew Gilligan, the journalist who made the allegations, all resign.
February: Blair names a panel to conduct an inquiry into pre-war intelligence, led by Lord Butler.
July: Butler's report criticises the intelligence basis for claims that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. It says the assertion that Iraq could use weapons of mass destruction within 45 minutes was unsubstantiated. However, the report found no evidence the intelligence had been manipulated by Blair and his aides.
2005
April 5: Blair calls a general election.
May 5: Blair becomes the first leader of the Labour party to win three consecutive terms as prime minister. The Labour Party defeats Michael Howard's Conservative Party comfortably, but with a much reduced majority overall.