Tony Blair keep your nose out

[billysboy]

When will this odious individual just clear off

I thought he was supposed to be sorting out the middle east ?

He thinks we have forgotten his illegal war , selling our gold , creating millions of jobs and then giving them all away , his little twist on the Good Friday Agreement allowing immunity for IRA bombers, his millions of pounds and multiple homes , I could go on

I would love him to just Feck off and stay in oblivion !

unreasonable ?

Unfortunately sectarian violence isnt the only sort that people have to be afraid from.

Best Prime Minister we've had in a long time. Have you forgotten how well off we all were.
Have you forgotten free education and tax credits for most people?
We need someone like this again to look after the poorer of us, rather than a conservative who will continue to ruin the country and kill many poor people.

I was against the Iraq war, I'm not a Blairite & I'm more Left wing than him. But he's talking more sense than the Labour Party has since 2015. We can be a protest party or want to get rid of the Tories.

Unfortunately sectarian violence isnt the only sort that people have to be afraid from.

Well no. But have you compared the murder rates from the height of the troubles to the murder rates now?

Brown sold off a lot. It looked like a good idea at the time
No it didn't. He told everyone in advance that he was going to sell loads of gold. Guess what happened to the price of that gold. A sixth form pupil who has studied 'supply and demand 101' could have handled it better.

Best Prime Minister we've had in a long time. Have you forgotten how well off we all were.

I was no better off under Labour and their policy of vote buying and throwing money at people to have kids (child trust funds anyone?) was unsustainable.

I’m conflicted about Blair - Iraq was an appalling decisions, but the GFA, sure start centres, working tax credits, school and nhs funding were all plus points and I remember the initial New Labour years as a really positive time. He is also a great orator and skilled communicator - in stark contract to our current lot. I think it’s worth listening to what he has to say ... when I tuned in to some of it earlier it made a lot of sense.

Well no. But have you compared the murder rates from the height of the troubles to the murder rates now?

So thats what changing face of NI is?

Less murders but lots of violence, still no go areas, still living in fear.

Thats not changing the face of NI.

Not really interested in the opinions of a Tory-lite, Thatcher loving, war criminal.

Best prime minister in recent history tbf

Yup. Agree with this. If he were leader again I would vote for him in a heartbeat.

Most people in N Ireland aren’t living in fear. They certainly were 30 years ago.

He was worth £60m in 2015. Must be more now.

"He's the only labour who has managed to actually win an election in decades." Because he lied. Because he pretended he was caring Conservative lite.

I am sorry I can't find the link but Peter Hitchin links every 'moderate' member of New Labour government by name, one by one, with the hard left and the communist party. They pulled an absolute blinder on this country.

Regarding Mrs Thatcher? She was too soft. IF she had had the balls and the foresight, she should have taken Brent Crude revenues and created a sovereign fund (like Singapore). We would not be in the shit we are, had she done this.

Instead, she spent it on the poor.

He's the former prime minister i never thought i'd miss. A total arse but the best PM we've had in my lifetime. He's absolutely right about Corbyn though (and i'm way to the left of Blair).

Less murders but lots of violence, still no go areas, still living in fear. Thats not changing the face of NI.

I’ll take less murders as a starting point.

You sound deranged.

Most people in N Ireland aren’t living in fear. They certainly were 30 years ago.

I disagree and theres been several threads where people who actually live in NI, have described being threatened by gangs ro pay money for protection, the fact that they cant really do much about it and how they sont feel things are really better. Just different.

So, no first hand knowledge then @scarsthelot, just MN anecdote.

"GIC Private Limited, formerly known as Government of Singapore Investment Corporation, is a sovereign wealth fund established by the Government of Singapore in 1981 to manage Singapore's foreign reserves. Its mission is to preserve and enhance the international purchasing power of the reserves, with the aim to achieve good long-term returns above global inflation over the investment time horizon of 20 years. With a network of 10 offices in key financial capitals around the world, GIC invests internationally in developed market equities, emerging market equities, nominal bonds and cash, inflation-linked bonds, private equity and real estate.[2]

The Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute (SWFI) had estimated the fund's assets at US$359 billion.[3]

In addition to GIC, the Government of Singapore owns another sovereign wealth fund, Temasek Holdings, which manages about SGD$308 billion of assets.[4]"

I am only aware of it because a mate of mine went to work in Singapore. All people are required to pay into the sovereign fund (the central pool required to pay for a proper health service, for example ). When he left Singapore after not that many years, he got a shed load of cash - something like £40,000 which was a lot in those days.

Capitalism works, people! If it can transform a rocky colonial outpost into the economy of Singapore, what could we do?

I am very disappointed that Boris is on a big spending drive instead of cutting taxes and growing our economy. If the EU had an economy with 15% business tax on their doorstep (which of course was what they were terrified of), they would implode more rapidly than they already are.

I always inwardly roll my eyes when he’s back out but he was right this time.

I can’t take anyone who thinks Thatcher was too soft and gave money to the poor seriously.

I’ll take less murders as a starting point.

You sound deranged.

Wow. Just wow. Deranged because I dont agree that's changing the face of NI?

I agree less murders is good. The face of the country hasnt changed. People on this thread have said, people dont live in fear, have no go areas etc.

Theres a world of difference between 'slight difference' and 'changing the face of NI'.

He is absolutely right about Corbyn and the left of the party (who appear to detest him more than anyone).

His downfall was Iraq but he knew when he was toxic for Labour and stepped aside.

Agree that who ever was PM at the time of Iraq we were going to war - no one can claim it was a decision he went into lightly

Labour made some mistakes over three consecutive wins but many people’s lives improved and the good policies we shouldn’t forget

Also agree he is the best PM in recent history

The positivity after he won in 1997 beats this acrimony now.
(although social media around now).

It is utterly terrifying, the number of people here saying Tony Blair was the best PM we have ever had. What is the definition of 'duped'?

WE ARE WHERE WE ARE because of those utterly toxic people!

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/apr/14/blairism-britain-iraq-war-tony-blair

Considering he was the only Labour leader in the last 50 years to win a GE (and won 3 in a row), I think YBU to ignore his views. He knew what it took to gain power in 1997. The same reasoning still applies today. If Labour are serious about winning a future GE, they need to appeal to a broader range of the electorate - it's not rocket science. To paraphrase politicians of the 80s/90s, Labour need to attract the votes of "Mondeo Man" - in those days, politicians knew that GEs are won and lost in the middle ground, not the extremes. It seems Labour's left have learned nothing from the Foot/Kinnock fiascos.