Tony Blair-worst UK Premier of all time?

Question

Gotta admit Harold McMillan runs him close

Answer 1

Tony Blair is the worst PRIME MINISTER of the UK by association. George Shrub (oops Bush) and John Brown Nose (sorry ...Howard) join Tony Blair in the Coalition of the Stupid (and that is WILLINGly stupid).

Answer 2

Someone - I think it was Richard Rovere but can't lay my hands on the book right now - wrote a very interesting book about the American presidency in which he classified them into a 2x2 matrix: passive - active and positive - negative. I thought it was very useful at the time and I guess that you could make the same analysis of UK Prime Ministers. I raise that point because Blair is undoubtedly more 'active' than Macmillan, who almost made a virtue of being laid-back (not that the phrase existed at that time). You can't imagine Tony Blair admitting to relaxing by re-reading the novels of Anthony Trollope, which Macmillan did.

So if you want to look just at the box called active/negative, I would put Blair there not just for his foreign policy but for so many domestic policies that have shown an extraordinary lack of understanding and compassion. I remember watching the 1997 election (I was in New Zealand and so didn't have to stay up all night!) and being so proud ... and then proud of actions like clobbering Pinochet, opening the Stephen Lawrence enquiry, etc. - even proud of having a PM who spoke French to the French. So although I despise much of what Thatcher did, at least she was upfront about her intentions; the anger at Blair in my case is because of so many promises broken ... as well as his being unable/unwilling to take the opportunity of improving the machinery of government, which underlies a lot of today's problems.

Disliking Thatcher and disliking Blair require that one comes from slightly different perspectives: it's the fox and hedgehog thing reversed. (The hedgehog has to know lots of things; the fox knows One Big Thing). At least you knew where you were with Thatcher. You never know what Blair's going to pull next. That's why I'd put him in the active/negative box.

Answer 3

Surely it all depends on what you are judging them on? Domestic policy? Foreign policy? Popular support? Spin and PR?

I remember Callaghan and then Thatcher getting in. I remember the miner's strikes, the various other strikes and the sheer hatred that Thatcher and Co had for working class people.

She was a total psycho. Sorry, that statement doesnt really merit worthy political analysis, but she and the Tory party at the time were barking mad and bloody scary to boot.

Lots of people - esp. some americans and more 'less poltically aware' thought that Maggie was a wonder woman...but I still think that some of the crap she contributed to in Africa, South America and elsewhere was nothing short of pure evil.

My husband's opinion is 'well, at least you knew what she stood for, unlike Blair and Co' and my answer was 'Yeh, but we all knew what Hitler and Stalin stood for'.

It all depends, I think, on who you 'grew up' under and your level of political awareness. I will never get away from believing that Thatcher was out to kill off most working class people I guess! Much as I hate the sound of her name, its sad to hear about the shell of a person she has become, due to Alzheimers.

Answer 4

It is quite comical how fickle the british public are. This country is in the best state it has been for decades. Under Thather this country was run to rack and ruin. Unemployment was at all time highs, interest rates was 15% our economy was boom and bust, then with Major it continued. ERM withdrawal, etc. As for being war mongering Thatcher enjoyed a war, and simply because it was easily win-able she fought it and became popular as a result. If there was the slightest chance we may have lost it she would have conceded. Major loved a war too, he gave the go-ahead, without parliamentary votes (If i recall) to invade iraq. At least Blair asked. Being only 22, i cannot profess to know what it was like under other prime ministers. All i do know is that under Tone, i have more money in my pocket (minimum wage etc) better chance of not being unemployed and feel life is better overall. I remember the dark old days as a child under thatcher. Protesting against unemployment, poll taxes, etc.

As a nation we are now enviable to the rest of the world. Under the Thatcher/Major regimes we were one the poorest nations in europe. We are now one of the richest and most successful. Our nation is now a prosperous one and that is as painful for me to say all down to Tone! As much as I have come to despise the man he has been good for this country. In years to come maybe the rose tinted spectacles will show him as the best ever prime minister if they are able to show maggie as good in comparison??????

Answer 5

It just shows how short peoples memories are and how manipulated by the media we are becoming.
No, he is not the worst Prime Minister we have ever had, just take a look at some simple facts, unemployment, extremely low, our economy stable and admired globally.
Look back to darling Mags and try to say that ! We were the laughing stock of the world then, now we are admired. My friends abroad see Blair as an astute and intelligent man with a real education and thoroughly capable as a politician on the world stage.
One thing about Macmillan, when he said `You have never had it so good` he was probably right !

Answer 6

Not even close.

John Major was a charisma-free zone in comparison and was totally ineffectual in office, although to be fair he was hamstrung by his party.

A recent poll found (Robert) Anthony Eden and Neville Chamberlain to be the worst PMs. Tony Blair was about halfway up the list.

Answer 7

He is a PRIME MINISTER! I don't believe he holds the title of PREMIER - however much he might want to.

Personally, I cannot stand the man and never could. I have never trusted him and trust him even less now when all he seems interested in is being photographed with the rich/famous/hip/infamous etc. etc.

But then again, show me a good one!

Answer 8

Its funny how everyone thinks their current leader is the worst, look at President Clinton he got replaced by Bush and America rejoiced for a while. When you look back leaders like Margret Thatcher were hated by the majority of the voters, so much so that she was overthrown by her own party. Now a lot of people remember her with fondness. Look at football clubs such as Man U or Chelsea. As long as a club does not win it is liked. When the club starts to win and dominate, fans of opposing clubs begin to hate them - unless they are teams from overseas in which case they seem to be idealised. This scenario applies to our Leaders.

Answer 9

I don't know if he is the outright winner of that title just yet but he is certainly in joint lead with Harold Wilson..the last prime minister to ruin this country

Answer 10

From a 2016 attitude, from the recommendations-set of the U. S. government and, to a lots lesser volume, the recommendations-set of a few (I suggested some) American posters right here with their withering contempt for the united kingdom and contempt for 'liberals' and worship of weapons and God (suggested 'Gahd'), according to probability we would desire to besides shop our money spent on defence and withdraw to our little island. The individuals rather do not look to get exhilaration from us besides. It saddens me because of the fact I even have continually famous the united states of a.

Answer 11

Well lets hope that the back stabbing, walking corpse who runs the Lib Dem's never gets into power. He'd be a dusey of a PM.