Blair comeback? : Sat Oct 08, 2016 2:25 pm  

Seems quite possible he may make a comeback. I reckon he'll establish a so called centre left party and most Labour MPs will join him. If so, that will be his final act in the utter destruction of the Labour Party.

Re: Blair comeback? : Sat Oct 08, 2016 6:47 pm  

Made Britain great for a few months in the late 90s then turned into a mercenary and profited big style. Throw him in the sea.

Re: Blair comeback? : Sat Oct 08, 2016 9:50 pm  

I'm trying to separate out the Iraq War when I critique Tony Blair, as it's such a humongous massive great turd of a stain on not only his reputation but also his character that it can be almost impossible to think of him for anything else.

But separating that out it's still a pretty poor legacy interspersed by brief moments of greatness.
The Northern Ireland situation shouldn't be underestimated, whilst there are obviously issues, it's miles better than it was and that is largely due to Blair and his government.
As goes funding for the NHS and the minimum wage and a few other things.

However, what cannot be accepted is the allowance of/active encouragement of the shrinking of the state and the private sector taking over areas they shouldn't be. Various parts of the public sector including in the NHS, police, social services, care and benefits sectors were either privatised or prepared for it. Along with the further entrenchment/encouragement of private sector involvement/complication of the transport and energy sectors.
Unfortunately, by the end, the very people who had been helped by things such as the NHS improvements, minimum wage etc, were being abandoned by the obsession with the private sector. The very people who Labour should be standing up for.

And that's without mentioning the complete and utter abdication of control of the financial sector.

So, even without the Iraq War, he should be utterly ashamed and apologetic for his record of abandoning people.

With the Iraq war taken into account, he should shut the f#ck up and live out his days quietly and with as much dignity as he can now muster.

Re: Blair comeback? : Sun Oct 09, 2016 11:17 am  

Him wrote:

With the Iraq war taken into account, he should shut the f#ck up and live out his days quietly and with as much dignity as he can now muster.

Pretty much this.

or if justice was served this -

Re: Blair comeback? : Mon Oct 10, 2016 1:22 pm  

King Street Cat wrote:

Made Britain great for a few months in the late 90s

All felt quite exciting for a bit then didn't it? Short lived though - unsurprisingly, New Labour was a big swindle, despite ringing endorsements from the Britpop crowd. Shame.

Re: Blair comeback? : Wed Oct 12, 2016 9:32 pm  

Bongser was in a greasy spoon in Vauxhall back in the day (early 90s) and said to his then boss, a Labourite Southron,

"Did you see that grinning moron, Blair on Question Time last night?"

"Well," came his reply, "I think I saw a future leader of the party and hopefully of the country."

Bongser derided him. He later laughed at the recollection. Neither of us is laughing now.

That is all that Bongser will say on this subject.

[Durham Giant]

Re: Blair comeback? : Sat Oct 15, 2016 9:01 am  

In looking at Blair's legacy it is important to look at the " good things" he did and how they were achieved.


The building of hospitals and schools is very easy to see all over the country but the fact that much of it was paid for by PFI rather than a proper system of taxation and planning etc has left the NHS in particular financially struggling.

Huddersfield is to lose its A nd E department to pay for a £150 million pound black hole in money paying for a hospital in Halifax.


It was also Blair who introduced all those ridiculous KPI'S AND TARGETS in the public sector which contributed to the destruction of the value of May public sector workers jobs. Public sector is no longer required a vocation for many but a millstone around their necks.

Between Blairs targets and Tory budget cuts over the last 6 years the public sector is right royally screwed

Re: Blair comeback? : Sat Oct 15, 2016 11:05 am  

Durham Giant wrote:

In looking at Blair's legacy it is important to look at the " good things" he did and how they were achieved.


The building of hospitals and schools is very easy to see all over the country but the fact that much of it was paid for by PFI rather than a proper system of taxation and planning etc has left the NHS in particular financially struggling.

Huddersfield is to lose its A nd E department to pay for a £150 million pound black hole in money paying for a hospital in Halifax.


It was also Blair who introduced all those ridiculous KPI'S AND TARGETS in the public sector which contributed to the destruction of the value of May public sector workers jobs. Public sector is no longer required a vocation for many but a millstone around their necks.

Between Blairs targets and Tory budget cuts over the last 6 years the public sector is right royally screwed

Sadly its NHS spending (or the lack of it) that is causing the likely demise of A & E departments all over the UK (not just in Huddersfield)

The PFI system has seen lots of new build but it's all on "the drip" and the long term cost is massive (compared to "properly financed" hospitals and schools).

Re: Blair comeback? : Sat Oct 15, 2016 6:25 pm  

wrencat1873 wrote:

Sadly its NHS spending (or the lack of it) that is causing the likely demise of A & E departments all over the UK (not just in Huddersfield)

I'm not sure that's true - social care is the Cinderella cause that nobody loves, nor do they lobby for more money for it or think much about it at all until they actually need it; but the swingeing cuts to LA's social care budgets through the austerity years, has meant that many people who would be cared for in their own homes now have no choice but to present at A&E or at their GP. Many NHS services that are at breaking point and demanding more cash, wouldn't need it if social care was properly funded.

Re: Blair comeback? : Sun Oct 16, 2016 1:24 pm  

bren2k wrote:

I'm not sure that's true - social care is the Cinderella cause that nobody loves, nor do they lobby for more money for it or think much about it at all until they actually need it; but the swingeing cuts to LA's social care budgets through the austerity years, has meant that many people who would be cared for in their own homes now have no choice but to present at A&E or at their GP. Many NHS services that are at breaking point and demanding more cash, wouldn't need it if social care was properly funded.

Perhaps I should have put "health care spending" in stead of NHS.

The mental health care side of things is an utter disgrace.
People now have to be on the verge of killing themselves to receive any kind of support, it's quite scary and utterly ignored by politicians of all parties.
You cant even get on waiting lists for treatment until you are on the brink.