Tony Blair: Difference between revisions
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'''Tony Blair''' (born 6th May [[1953]]), as [[prime minister]] of the [[United Kingdom]], perhaps earned a reputation as one of the most controversial holders of [[Britain]]'s highest [[politics|political]] office. Internationally, he is best known for supporting a much-opposed [[United States of America|U.S.]]-led war in [[Iraq]], the repercussions of which are ongoing in the [[Middle East]] and the wider world; domestically, his legacy included the abolition of [[socialism]] as the fundamental tenet of his ('New') [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], and the introduction of the [[privatisation|private sector]] into British [[National health service (UK)|health]] and [[education]]. | '''Tony Blair''' (born 6th May [[1953]]), as [[prime minister]] of the [[United Kingdom]], perhaps earned a reputation as one of the most controversial holders of [[Britain]]'s highest [[politics|political]] office. Internationally, he is best known for supporting a much-opposed [[United States of America|U.S.]]-led war in [[Iraq]], the repercussions of which are ongoing in the [[Middle East]] and the wider world; domestically, his legacy included the abolition of [[socialism]] as the fundamental tenet of his ('New') [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], and the introduction of the [[privatisation|private sector]] into British [[National health service (UK)|health]] and [[education]]. | ||
==Resignation announcement== | ==Resignation and departure as prime minister== | ||
10th May [[2007]] marked the official announcement of the end of Blair's premiership, with a departure date set for the following 27th June.<ref>''[[BBC]] News'': [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6639945.stm Blair will stand down on 27 June]'.</ref> In a speech made in the [[Sedgefield]] [[constituency]] he represents in the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|British parliament]], Blair announced a timetable for leaving office, paving the way for his successor after over ten years of power. In words that emphasised his domestic record more than his international influence, Blair credited his [[government]] with lowering [[crime]], stabilising the [[economy]] and improving public services; he also emphasised that it had placed the UK at the forefront of fighting [[terrorism]], tackling [[climate change]] and providing [[aid]] to troubled regions such as [[Africa]]. Often accused of having a fervently [[religious]] approach to wider issues,<ref>Blair referred to this in his Sedgefield speech as a "[[Messiah|Messianic]] zeal", a characteristic he clearly rejected.</ref> he also remained committed to the view that time would see his decision-making vindicated: | ===Resignation announcement=== | ||
10th May [[2007]] marked the official announcement of the end of Blair's premiership, with a departure date set for the following 27th June.<ref>''[[BBC]] News'': [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6639945.stm Blair will stand down on 27 June]'.</ref> In a speech made in the [[Sedgefield]] [[constituency]] he represents in the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|British parliament]], Blair announced a timetable for leaving office, paving the way for his successor [[Gordon Brown]] after over ten years of power. In words that emphasised his domestic record more than his international influence, Blair credited his [[government]] with lowering [[crime]], stabilising the [[economy]] and improving public services; he also emphasised that it had placed the UK at the forefront of fighting [[terrorism]], tackling [[climate change]] and providing [[aid]] to troubled regions such as [[Africa]]. Often accused of having a fervently [[religious]] approach to wider issues,<ref>Blair referred to this in his Sedgefield speech as a "[[Messiah|Messianic]] zeal", a characteristic he clearly rejected.</ref> he also remained committed to the view that time would see his decision-making vindicated: | |||
<blockquote>''I did what I thought was right. I may have been wrong, that's your call, but I did what I thought was right for our country.''</blockquote> | <blockquote>''I did what I thought was right. I may have been wrong, that's your call, but I did what I thought was right for our country.''</blockquote> | ||
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<blockquote>''My apologies to you for the times I've fallen short. But good luck.''</blockquote> | <blockquote>''My apologies to you for the times I've fallen short. But good luck.''</blockquote> | ||
===Final acts as prime minister=== | |||
Tony Blair's final appearances as an international politician were at the 2007 [[Group of Eight]] (G8) summit held between some of the world's most economically powerful states, and a meeting of the [[European Council]] of [[European Union]] countries. These actions would be expected from a premiership often strongly focused on issues outside the UK's borders, though Blair's intention to bring the country closer to its European partners was not entirely fulfilled.<ref>According to the [[historian]] [[Anthony Seldon]]. ''BBC News'': '[How will history judge Blair? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6636091.stm#seldon].' 10th May 2007.</ref> Back in Britain, Blair's final days as prime minister saw his name rarely out of the [[media of the United Kingdom|national press]]: he called the [[media]] a "feral beast" while admitting his government's early desire to '[[spin]]' stories may have aggravated this issue;<ref>''BBC News'': '[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6744261.stm Media 'like feral beast' - Blair].' June 2007.</ref> and he strongly criticised the proposed [[academic boycott of Israel|academic boycott on Israeli universities]] in one of his final performances in the UK's [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|lower house of parliament]].<ref>''BBC News'': '[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/6726727.stm Blair decries Israel boycott move].' June 2007.</ref> As for the upper house, he reaffirmed his view that the [[House of Lords]] should remain [[Reform of the House of Lords|appointed rather than elected]].<ref>''BBC News'': '[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6763575.stm Blair still backs appointed Lords].' 18th June 2007.</ref> | |||
==Footnotes== | ==Footnotes== | ||
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==External links== | ==External links== | ||
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/ | *[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk_politics/2007/blair_years/default.stm The Blair Years 1997-2007] - BBC articles covering major events of Tony Blair's premiership, with analysis. | ||
[[Category:Politics Workgroup|Blair, Tony]] | [[Category:Politics Workgroup|Blair, Tony]] | ||
[[Category:Topic Informant Workgroup|Blair, Tony]] | [[Category:Topic Informant Workgroup|Blair, Tony]] | ||
[[Category:CZ Live|Blair, Tony]] | [[Category:CZ Live|Blair, Tony]] | ||
Revision as of 04:58, 21 June 2007
Tony Blair (born 6th May 1953), as prime minister of the United Kingdom, perhaps earned a reputation as one of the most controversial holders of Britain's highest political office. Internationally, he is best known for supporting a much-opposed U.S.-led war in Iraq, the repercussions of which are ongoing in the Middle East and the wider world; domestically, his legacy included the abolition of socialism as the fundamental tenet of his ('New') Labour Party, and the introduction of the private sector into British health and education.
Resignation and departure as prime minister
Resignation announcement
10th May 2007 marked the official announcement of the end of Blair's premiership, with a departure date set for the following 27th June.[1] In a speech made in the Sedgefield constituency he represents in the British parliament, Blair announced a timetable for leaving office, paving the way for his successor Gordon Brown after over ten years of power. In words that emphasised his domestic record more than his international influence, Blair credited his government with lowering crime, stabilising the economy and improving public services; he also emphasised that it had placed the UK at the forefront of fighting terrorism, tackling climate change and providing aid to troubled regions such as Africa. Often accused of having a fervently religious approach to wider issues,[2] he also remained committed to the view that time would see his decision-making vindicated:
I did what I thought was right. I may have been wrong, that's your call, but I did what I thought was right for our country.
An apology for his most-criticised activities was unforthcoming. In concluding, however, Blair admitted that he had made unspecified mistakes:
My apologies to you for the times I've fallen short. But good luck.
Final acts as prime minister
Tony Blair's final appearances as an international politician were at the 2007 Group of Eight (G8) summit held between some of the world's most economically powerful states, and a meeting of the European Council of European Union countries. These actions would be expected from a premiership often strongly focused on issues outside the UK's borders, though Blair's intention to bring the country closer to its European partners was not entirely fulfilled.[3] Back in Britain, Blair's final days as prime minister saw his name rarely out of the national press: he called the media a "feral beast" while admitting his government's early desire to 'spin' stories may have aggravated this issue;[4] and he strongly criticised the proposed academic boycott on Israeli universities in one of his final performances in the UK's lower house of parliament.[5] As for the upper house, he reaffirmed his view that the House of Lords should remain appointed rather than elected.[6]
Footnotes
- ↑ BBC News: Blair will stand down on 27 June'.
- ↑ Blair referred to this in his Sedgefield speech as a "Messianic zeal", a characteristic he clearly rejected.
- ↑ According to the historian Anthony Seldon. BBC News: '[How will history judge Blair? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6636091.stm#seldon].' 10th May 2007.
- ↑ BBC News: 'Media 'like feral beast' - Blair.' June 2007.
- ↑ BBC News: 'Blair decries Israel boycott move.' June 2007.
- ↑ BBC News: 'Blair still backs appointed Lords.' 18th June 2007.
External links
- The Blair Years 1997-2007 - BBC articles covering major events of Tony Blair's premiership, with analysis.