The Tony Blair Story

[mumofoneAloneandwell]

Late night with dd - I’ve put it on in the background on +1

is anyone watching? 👀

I know!
Morbid curiosity got the better of me and I just had to Google the blue underpants quote. Found this little gem from back in 02 when the story broke*.

*Open at your own risk and ensure you have the service of a good therapist on hand.

I could have done with a warning before Farage popped up.

The interviewer just asked him how it felt to see so much of what he stood for, crumble. Yet, if he hadn’t invaded Iraq, would it all have crumbled?

Did everything change because TB had liked/wanted it?

Was the last 10 years, an anti Blair reaction? because he had such vision & ability but threw it away? I wonder.

The bit at the end about not wanting to psychoanalyse himself. I think he doesn't want to look too deeply at himself.

Yet, if he hadn’t invaded Iraq, would it all have crumbled?

Personally, no I don't believe it would have done. It wouldn't have remained utopia because history shows that after ten plus years of the same person being in charge things begin to stale by the end.

But I do think his legacy would probably have been mainly positive.

😂😂😂
Oh my god! Funny and horrific at the same time! Thanks for the trigger warning!

Thanks everyone

no I’m amused more than being traumatised 😂🥰

I think staying out of the Iraq War might well have prevented 7/7 and other terrorist attacks.

I'd have liked more on his views of Putin.

I think, as we've said, a lot was achieved.
The Left hated him for his liberal policies, relationship with the USA and the EU.
The Right hated him for the minimum wage, Sure Start, investment in schools and the NHS, success in N Ireland and the EU.
I also think that because he was the most successful Labour leader to date, there's an awful tendency to pull him down.

Especially after Putin was so brutal to him!

I liked the final G8 and his decision to focus on cancelling the debts for the poorest nations, and the environment.
Shame 7/7 got in the way.

Maybe. Maybe not. Islamism was on the rise.

Yes, I think that’s what I was trying to say. He did achieve a lot and tall poppies do get chopped. But I think that Iraq gave everyone the excuse to throw everything out, as GB said ‘it’s a new government’.
It is fascinating how divisive he still is.

The GFA was an immense achievement.

I remember being at home during 7/7

step dad worked in Westminster but was fine - how terrifying

Did the bill to erase the national debt of the poor counties go through?

Yes. I do think it's a tall poppy thing, definitely.

Yes. Thanks also in no small part to the incredible Mo Mowlam.

Yes, he pushed it through and they managed to get about $40 - $50 billion cancelled for the poorest nations.
Blair and Brown hoped for $100 billion though.

There was other bad stuff aside from Iraq - that thing with the NHS which it is still in hock to - what was that about? The woman in charge of it, and a few others, they all even began to look like Blair. It became a bit cult-like. I felt the last straw was when he wanted to renovate Blackpool. Now, that's a place that needs it - but Blair wanted it to become a Mecca for gambling. The morality issue of it simply escaped him. It fell through, thankfully.

She was formidable. So many strong politicians at that time, as we've said upthread. Sadly missed.

I agree

As Joni Mitchell said ‘you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone’

😬

it’s kind of brutal how quickly they’re kicked out for the next family