The Future of Britain

So everyone is basing their comments on what Paul Johnson of the Institute of Fiscal Studies said? Or money saving expert Martin Lewis? Or Mete Cohan, CEO of My Life My Say. Or Rory Stewart. Or Monica Harding, Director of the Britain Project.

Or those who will speak after the coffee break?

amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/mar/11/labour-tony-blair-adviser-government

Here’s the link Maisie. I agree with you, he left the country in a better state than it is now. I just think his time has gone and he’s ‘tainted’ to a certain extent. The more he becomes involved with current Labour, the more he may divide people - not want Labour needs!

LizzieDrip

Blair’s policy of ‘letting the City of London do whatever it wanted helped crash the economy in 2008’. Failure on a pretty grand scale!

It was Brown and Darling's prompt action which prevented the economy from crashing and leaving people with accounts in the most irresponsible banks with no money at all.

It was a global financial crisis, precipitated by the US, don't forget.

The economy was recovering nicely until the tories came along with their economically illiterate 'austerity' project. It's time people stopped believing the tory propaganda...

But if you never get into power you never have to take any responsibility for anything so it's much better really.

LizzieDrip

*It’s not that Blair isn’t brilliant at politics, in the sense that he is a master at playing the game – he is. It’s that he has had his go, and it largely failed and helped leave us in the mess we are now in. It’s a different system we need: Blair was the last shining star of an old politics whose time is up.*

The Guardian, March 2022

Have you a link to that, LizzieDrip? I'd be interested to know who wrote it. And what they consider to be a 'mess'.

For all his faults and shortcomings I think that Blair (and Brown) left the UK in a much better state than what we find ourselves reduced to now after 12 years of tory government.

Blair’s policy of ‘letting the City of London do whatever it wanted helped crash the economy in 2008’. Failure on a pretty grand scale!

And for those who cite MSM manipulation - in 2011, Blair became godfather to one of Rupert Murdoch’s daughters! Unusual it itself

Exactly! A master of manipulation worthy of Johnson.

He largely failed? There have been two labour PMS in the last 70 years. One was Blair. Thank God my definition of failure for the labour party is slightly different.

Blair came up so many changes that in my opinion changed the British way of life and not for the better. Devolution. Changes to the GPs contracts. The human rights Bill. Iraq of course. David Kelly.

And for those who cite MSM manipulation - in 2011, Blair became godfather to one of Rupert Murdoch’s daughters! Unusual it itself.

I actually voted for him in 1997. Shook his hand. Was full of optimism for a government led by him.

He was charismatic. No self doubt.

The late (great in my opinion) Mo Mowlam once said of him “the trouble with Tony’s he thinks he’s f*****g Jesus”.

Will I be watching?
Hell, no.

It’s not that Blair isn’t brilliant at politics, in the sense that he is a master at playing the game – he is. It’s that he has had his go, and it largely failed and helped leave us in the mess we are now in. It’s a different system we need: Blair was the last shining star of an old politics whose time is up.

The Guardian, March 2022

I would agree Galaxy. This is bringing together speakers talking about "The Future of Britain" where core aims could be agreed by all not about political party playground "I'm right", "no I'm right" but what could be agreed on.

So far the quality and diverity of speakers has been amazing. Hopefully a recording will be accessable later.

I don't think Blair is undermining the Labour Party. He wasnt from what I heard on R4 this morning.

I think all those who are centerist, right of centre, or left of centre will find it interesting and learn from it. I'm never sure intrenched extremists, either left or right want to learn anything new. But that is just my experience.

I won’t be watching. Tony Blair was the best ‘Conservative’ this country ever had! He’s now doing his best to undermine the current Labour Party. Once again, doing the Conservative’s job for them. Champagne Socialist through and through. Can’t stand the man!