Who was PM during the best of times for you?

[verdantverdure]

Me?

Blair. Brown, first bit of Cameron.

On paper I earn more money now but everything's tits up isn't it? From the economy to shit on beaches to being able to get access to the NHS when needed.

Blair, closely followed by Brown.

This. And Michael Howard said regime change was a good enough reason to go to war and he’d have done exactly the same as Blair. He just happened not to be sitting in the hot seat.

https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/howard-under-fire-over-iraq-7247839.html

Blair all the way

Blair.

I was in my early 20s though and full of optimism and hope. Of course the world felt full of possibilities.

Tony Blair

Harold Wilson.
The world felt full of possibilities and colour. There were jobs and money for leisure, education, the arts and innovation.
His government got rid of capital punishment, worked to take Britain into Europe and established the Open University.
Good egg, was Harold.

For my entire working life successive governments have buggered it up and I include all colours and stripes.

Any savings I've had or pension pots haven't done as well as they could have, and now I'm old enough to consider retiring they've moved the goalposts (again) and the cost of everything is going through the roof. Again.

They're all as bad as each other.

Can this thread be a reminder not to vote Tory please?

Or perhaps not a blanket instruction but a suggestion that people actually check policies and promises before voting?

voting for/against an entire party because historically you think they were useless seems a bit daft. Just because some people look back fondly on their 20’s under Blair doesn’t mean the govt did everything right. They were voted out for a reason.

I don’t particularly agree with the current government, but then as I’ve been saying I thought labour were pretty shite as well, and set the NHS on the path to destruction. What I’ll probably end up doing is reviewing my actual MP candidates and voting for the individual I feel best represents us.

Cameron/Theresa May. My life was great during those times. I feel like the country has just got worse since then.

Blair. Renting in a flat share and had lots of spare cash from a very normal job. How the fuck people survive doing the same nowadays I have no idea. On paper I’m richer I own a house (money pit), drive a car (money pit) I take home about 3.5k a month including maintenance. I don’t think I should feel poor but I do. Life is just so much more expensive.

Blair undoubtedly

And he said no to Lyndon Johnson and kept us out of Vietnam. What a great decision that was.

I wasn’t in my 20s when Blair was in government @Lastnamedidntstick, I’m exactly the same age as him so I was 44 when he came to power. It was the best era since 1945 to 50 for public services. They weren’t even decisively voted out, the Lib Dem surge cost them that election, what shame that Clegg decided to turn right instead of left. That was a real Sliding Doors moment.

From all accounts he was well liked as a PM. He and the queen had a good relationship.

Blair

Education education education

@Lastnamedidntstick what legacy will the Tory's leave behind? Blair did a lot for public services whereas every single one is in the gutter right now.

This government will be remembered as fascists and self serving crooks.

They were voted out for a reason.

A large part of that reason is because Brown's relationship with the (Tory) press barons collapsed. In his own words "I couldn't fight them".

My experience of Blair’s legacy was the dismantling of the NHS and the start of privatisation. 🤷‍♀️.

i’m not saying the current government isn’t a shitshow, but I wouldn’t go back to Blair and his sparking smile in front of the cameras while doing PFI deals in private.

i don’t think any of our political parties have the public’s best interest at heart, or ever have for that matter. They’re all in it for their own gain, and I include Blair in that.

like I said, I’ll probably vote for whichever local candidate I feel will be our best representative, because none of the parties have my confidence.

If Labour can remember not to elect nutters like Corbyn as their leader.

Don't forget

Profiteering from a pandemic.
So much was slow or badly done because they ignored established or public suppliers and providers in favour of getting kick backs from their mates getting paid waaay over the odds for substandard old shite.

And

One of the highest death tolls from covid 19 in Europe per capita combined with one of the biggest economic hits because our covid policy was batshit plus we have Brexit to make everything worse.

People were pretty pissed off at end of Blair years, hence protests over war. Then deep recession was painful, especially in private sector.

re media I’d say they’ve been fairly critical for last for years of current government so we’ll see if that continues. Labour have used press in past, eg Blair and that front cover

Blair. I remember the song things can only get better playing when he got in. In my twenties and teaching in London. Life was good and we had sure start!

Would actually be a good idea if people gave an idea of their age and family circumstances on this thread. I'm nearly 48, divorced, no kids and said Major/Cameron.

Giving an idea of their wealth and background would be even more illuminating, but a lot of posters wouldn't want to do that, me included.

I said Major/Blair not Major/Cameron!