Tony Blair... What happened?

Question

What happened to make his popularity tank?

The USA is so cut off from the rest of the world.... I watch BBC news on our public TV station, but I hadn't heard about his leadership being questioned.
I just read this morning that he will be stepping down.. good thing, or bad thing, and why?

What were the lies he told, as referenced in CJ's answer?

I am starting to get it.
We aren't happy with Bush either, for the same reasons, and also hope to get him out of office, but we still have a year to go

Answer 1

Good thing, because he is becoming George Bush's puppy dog, and that is not acceptable.

Answer 2

The lies he is accused of refer to the weapons of mass destruction that were said to be present in Iraq and that were used to justify British involvement in the subsequent war by Tony Blair.
He had already announced that he would be standing down and that he wouldn't be fighting the next general election as PM. Ever since then, the press have been alive with speculation about exactly when he will go. This is due to great interest as to the success of otherwise of the ambitions of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, who holds the second great office of the British State after that of PM. He agreed not to contest the election of Tony Blair to become Leader of the Labour Party before the party became the Government, and as such has always felt that the top job would be his upon Blair's departure. This tension between Blair and Brown has supposedly been simmering for a while. Brown wants Blair to announce exactly when he is going so that he (Brown) can mount his campaign to take over, but dare not make his views public in case he is seen as the man who stabs Tony in the back and therefore buggers up his chances of becoming PM. The arguement goes that by announcing that he would leave before the next general election, Blair runs the risk of appearing a lame duck and could become increasingly politically unimportant as his term in office draws to a close. Therefore the pressure is being put on him to announce his exact departure date so as to avoid a internecine war in the ruling party and hence a possible electoral defeat. For some reason Blair seems very reluctant to play ball.

Answer 3

The bad thing was for British politics. Joining in with Bush's illegal war in Iraq caused him to lose the trust of the British people who were consistently sceptical of the reasons given for going to war (and were proved right). Had Blair not followed Bush so slavishly he would very likely have gone down in history as one of the great British prime ministers, but like Americans, Britons don't much like having their politics governed by other countries whose leaders they have no power to elect. Blair and his government have done many good things for which they will not be properly thanked, but have done one very, very bad thing, and several smaller errors as well. The Labour party may recover under its new leader provided s/he does not just run along doing whatever the neocons say, but Blair's days were over a long time ago. It is sad; I hope that this government can proceed after the blood letting and continue the good things Labour have done. The cruellest irony would be to usher back in a Conservative administration, determined to dismantle everything good that Labour has done, AND to do as Bush tells them as well.

Answer 4

The main thing is that he announced after he won the last general election that he wasnt going to stand for another election. But while its highly speculated that Gordon Brown will take over, Blair hasnt confirmed anything nor has he announced when he will be leaving (though he is expected to today). Obviously this has led to uncertainty and unrest among the labour party. Alot want the New leader of the labour party to take over sooner rather than later so he can begin preparations for the next election. This is why hes had a wave of resignations, basically over his handling of his leaving.

Answer 5

He was given this country as a gift after Major's corrupt Tories. What did he do? He carried on with Tory policies, has interferred with hospitals and schools. ( Nurses are currently being fired all over England ) Allowed immigration to flourish at taxpayers expense, has pursued wars with Bush and lied about the reasons for them, remember the Weapons of Mass Destruction Saddam supposedly had? Our tax burden has made petrol $2 per LITRE! He is hated now by many here.

Answer 6

he's out spending his tens of millions contained in the sales. Harrods one starts off the following day , and in view that that's owned by technique of an arab i'm positive he will sense that he's doing solid artwork. Edit. woman B - Are you his spouse ! Integrity ? LOL. Tony Blair & Integrity !? which will keep me amused for fairly a at the same time as.

Answer 7

The lies he told? CJ obviously means the reasons for joining in GWBs' crusade. TB is very unpopular for many reasons - immigration, crime, housing, bad choices regarding foreign policy (see above!). You must also understand Labour has been the main party of the Left, but TB has merely implemented a lot of the previous (Conservative ) government's policies. The traditional Labour voters who put TB where he now is, no longer recognise the party they fought so hard for, therefore
many of their diehard campaigners will never vote Labour again.

Answer 8

His leadership has been in serious question since 2003 and the war on Iraq. Many Brits are tired of feeling like we are ruled by George W. Bush

Answer 9

What lies did he tell? How about that he had been shown evidence which proved Saddam had WMDs, and so Britain HAD to go to war with him. Did we find any WMDs? Nope!

I think that was the biggest lie he told, but the problem is that all politicians lie to get power and to keep it. I just hope that we can find a new Prime Minister at the nest election who actually keeps his election promises. I'm not optimistic though.

Answer 10

Quite a few of us in Britain want to see an orderly transition between Tony Blair and the Tory David Cameron. We are being denied that by the Labour party trying to oust Blair too early.

The only objectionable thing about Blair is his fawning attitude to the US government. It's humiliating. We should be a friend of the US and not a willing slave.

Answer 11

Blair is a liar and has led a sleaze ridden government. He has to go. We have been feed lies for years, not only the Iraq war. Our health service is at melt down, crime is worse that many cities in the USA. He has made aq mess and at last has decided to run and let someone else start to clean up his mess.