PM Blair announces resignation.

[STEVE G]

Tony Blair has just announced that he intends to tender his resignation as British Prime Minister on the 27th of June.

[PeteC]

Yeah, CNN said in 7 weeks time this afternoon. I liked the guy and wish him well. Pete

[STEVE G]

He actually said he would step down about a year ago, but it's taken him a while to come up with an actual date.

[Kraka's Dad]

Wish he and the rest of his party had gone years ago !!!

[redzonerocker]

had tony blair gone earlier along with the rest of the party, who would have been in government?
there hasn't been an alternative choice fit enough to govern for the last 15 years & there still isn't!!
mr blair may not have got everything right, but overall his record isn't that bad.

[PeteC]

From an outsiders point of view, he seemed passionate about what he believed in and was able to communicate it extremely well.

If he was able to run, he would win in the USA in 2008, hands down, IMHO.

Yes, I do not know the in's and out's of British political policy and programs. I'm just commenting on his appeal factor. Pete

[STEVE G]

It will be interesting to see what role he takes on afterwards if any, he is after all still young and he is retiring from the British political system totally. Whatever people think of his politics, he has quite a bit of kudos on the world stage and there are many high profile positions he could get himself into.

[Randy Cornhole]

You can think what you like, but Tony was the best thing to happen in England for some time. The consertivatives were lost and had wishy washy leaders (still have in my opinion). and it needed someone to take charge, Give us a break from IDS and others like him. David Cameron, dear god are you all mad!!!!!! The guys a fake.... I'm not say ing Mr Brown is better but given the alternative he's far and away the best choice....

[Big A]

I think you all Brits are bummin right now, hopefully Gordon Brown won't get in. He is not now nor ever was the answer. Brown think's he's waiting line because of a deal he cut with Blair and his supporters years ago but I was a Brit I'd be looking for someone else.

[gaijin]

Pity that Bush & Cheney don't follow his lead, or that of Nixon and Spiro Agnew.

[caller]

I think you all Brits are bummin right now, hopefully Gordon Brown won't get in. He is not now nor ever was the answer. Brown think's he's waiting line because of a deal he cut with Blair and his supporters years ago but I was a Brit I'd be looking for someone else.

Big A, we don't have much choice at the moment. We elected a political ideal that just happened to be headed by Blair. Whoever takes over as leader of that ideal becomes PM until the next general election. I'm not quite sure, but I can think that could be as long as 3 years away - we vote for a new parliment every 5 years unless something happens for an election to be called earlier.

I think it fair to say a lot might want this reviewed, as the way politics has gone since Thatcher, and generally in the World, is to have more "presidential style" leaders, watever the political system in place and I wonder how many voted for Blair rather than his party?

I'm sure in due course another strong personality will come through, but agree with Randy, that "boy David" isn't it.

[nevets]

Brown is not the man for the job but i dont know who is , i am glad to see Blair go his party where not socialists but torys in another name.

[redzonerocker]

maybe brown isn't the right man for the job. only time will tell on that score.if the opinion polls are anything to go by then brown is popular enough today.
the options are pretty limited at the moment not only with the labour party leadership but in politics in general.
we have the tories & david chameleon? the liberals & whatever his name is? & we also have a mish mash of minor parties who couldn't run a bath between them!!
not a lot to chose from, could be worse though. whoever gets voted in is a legitimate choice of the people, unlike other nations throughout the world.

[Rider]

Kraka, I hear your cry!
I'm glad to see him go!
Tony Blair did not do alright in mine and many others opinion!
For a left winger he is widely regarded as tory in all but name! Heres my beef on him.

The Good 1997 - 1999

Highly telegenic and friendly, great poster child for Labour.
He 'won' Kosovo and the Northern Island peace process is at its completion.
Certain NHS improvements.

The Bad 2000 - 2007

The moral decline of the UK is terrible (argued that this may / may not be governments fault), devolution has seriously weakened the UK. England is essentially a cash cow for labours big spending social projects.
The shambles in Iraq and Afganistan.
Tony Blair literally dragged us into that war stating that WMD were there on his say so. We are now considered a pariah state by many other countries due to the Iraq occupation on meaningless grounds.
UK is reveiled by many other nations.
Being British (especially English) now means being associated with this shambles.
Tough on crime pledge totally backed down on due to pandering to EU regs.
Immigration, Welfare state being abused and exploited.
Tony Blair painfully obvious that the man is too subserviant to George Bush.
OT but Cherie Blair is a meddlesome shrew of a woman, her gobby comments won him no favours.
Did not fight his corner to keep the EU rebate.
Foreign policy dictated by America, reliant on US Technology for defense, Domestic policy dictated by Europe.
He picked a chancellor who has plundered the Pensions Fund! This is seriously relevant to you folks out in Thailand!


I could go on and on and yes some of it is not all Tonys fault, but he certainly had a big hand in it. Worse than Thatcher and Major put together.
Good riddance Tony you will not be missed.

[BaaBaa.]

I think you all Brits are bummin right now