Why does everyone give Blair so much stick when he is clearly the best thing that has ever happened to Britain

Question

Just to add why I believe the above statement to be true I detail his accomplishments:
He has implemented redistributive policies (to a rather larger extent than popularly realised); introduced a minimum wage and some new employment rights (while keeping Margaret Thatcher's trade union legislation); introduced significant constitutional reforms (which remain incomplete and controversial); promoted new rights for gay people in the Civil Partnerships Act; and signed treaties integrating Britain more closely with the EU). He has also firmly supported George W. Bush's foreign policy (while reportedly attempting to act as a restraining influence on him) and developed a much stronger relationship with America, the World's super power; introduced substantial market-based reforms in the education and health sectors; introduced student tuition fees; sought to reduce certain categories of welfare payments; and introduced tough anti-terrorism and identity card legislation (with claimed public su

and last but not least he has helped turn Iraq from a dictatorial hell hole on earth into a democratic, reforming country.

Answer 1

Most of what you list represents a catalogue of what he has not got right. Your question is either a very clever wind up, or you are the most deluded and dangerous person operating on this site.

Answer 2

I normally read other posts before replying to a question,to get a broader perspective and a "feel" for the question,so that i can give a non judgemental,unbiased and what i always hope is a fair minded opinion...i will not do so with your post-because the answer is easy--Mr Blair lied to the populace about WMD,and whatever people thought of him and his party BEFORE this lie,the die was cast i'm afraid.A premier from a democratic country such as Great Britain does not lie to the people,to the world,never mind what other premiers from other country's say,or intend to do,in this day and age.So never mind about the good he has done,he lied to us.

Answer 3

Itotally agree ,the problem is in these days of shrinking memberships of old style unions they are merging in order to widen the scope of their influence and using scare tactics .Take the divers strike in the north sea ,the dispute involves the rmt rail ,you dont need a diver on a train ,maritime Ithought that was ships and divers are not involved in transport but you have a spent force militant union boss demanding 50 per cent rise for 900 members knowing that a strike will cost the country billions.Are we going back to extortion threats blackmail etc perpetrated by the 70s dinosaurs.Instead of unison opposing private finance in the health service they should be recruiting members in the new organisations not putting out scare stories banding with other unions[nurses, scientific,etc]in order to perpetuate the myth of supporting the public rather than the truth of protecting their own self interest .This is a government elected by the people not a union closed shop.

Answer 4

hahaha really?? mmmmh the best thing that ever happened to Britain?... no - but he might well have been. I remember when he was first elected he got out of his car and walked the last few yards to no. 10 Downing Street, and his speech brought tears to my eyes. It was, of course, a great piece of theatre. From that point it sort of went down hill and then much more seriously downhill with his death wish of wanting to be photographed at the White House and his friendship with Bush. Maybe it was his sense of wanting a bigger stage than Parliament and a desire to be on the World Stage, like Thatcher and Reagan.
Blair is head and shoulders above all his UK contemporaries in terms of his oratory power. Watching him in Parliament in debate was like watching him debating with primary school children wearing adult clothes. Whilst the opposition (laughingly called that) stutter pathetically with poor oratory and with scraps of paper and dull phrasing, Blair simply wiped the floor with them and continued without any real resistance. Years of working on TV gave him the edge , and he used it. But, unfortunately he was a voice and nothing else.
Only a very few times have I been ashamed to be British. The first time was when he supported Bush on the invasion of Iraq. That was a stupid move from the start, and any quick perusal of British history in Iraq at the turn of the century would have made that clear. It was also a way unfortunately of neutering the UN.. and then the whole thing got out of hand - Bush's will held sway and Blair merely "legitimised" it. Without Blair it is unlikely that Bush would have acted, as he had almost no other support until that liaison.
The second time I was ashamed of being British was when Blair had the Queen invite Bush to visit the UK on a State Visit, which I believe was the only time ever that an American President had been given that honour. It was clearly a way to give Bush support at the highest profile possible, and sucked!!!
So why the stick? Recent surveys in UK and Israel have shown that the British regard Bush as the second leader (after Bin Laden) most likely to be a danger to World Peace (ahead of the Korean leader, and the Iranian leader) so where would that leave Blair? I am afraid he should have gone down in History as one of the great Conservative Prime Ministers (yes I said Conservative) but his words were hollow. His home policies have been poor, and with a massive majority he could have achieved so much. He carried virtually the whole of the electorate but squandered his place in history. On the international front his siding with Bush prevented him from reining back Israels invasion of Lebanon and the killing of innocents there, and also his words on helping Palestinians have not been followed by action. In my view many (but not all) of the World's problems, including 9/11, largely rest on the fulcrum of Israel and the need for Justice in Palestine, and for the catalytic effect of refugees spreading throughout Jordan, Syria, and beyond. The Bush/Blair legacy is an increase in terrorism world wide, a failure of diplomacy and a failure to ensure the democratisation of the United Nations.

Answer 5

Because he succumbed to the folly that all politicians seem susceptible to when he decided he could make more of an impact on the international stage, and in the history books, by allying himself with a right wing US Government and involving the UK in unwinnable wars.

Answer 6

Everyone has their own take, but the stick originates from:

1) Bush/Iraq
2) Excessive spin/outright lies
3) Ignoring Parliament
4) Mismanaging cabinet
5) Taking donations for titles
6) Doing God (against advice)
7) Grinning profusely

Answer 7

Is that why 1500 people a week are leaving these shores to get a life away from Blair, with Knighthoods for money in which he is currently being investigated, you may, after all your praise get one yourself, if he is the best thing that you have happen in your life then you are a sad person

Answer 8

Why - 2 words 'Phony Tony' thats why!

Sorry, you onbiously think he is doing a great job, but then again so did the German population under Hitler, Russians under Stalin, Italians under Mussolini, etc etc etc.

He is, as I think most people have finally come to realise (Hence his rapid fall from favour) Geroge W Bush's right hand butt cheek.

Sorry!

His wife is ugly too - maybe thats the reason?

Answer 9

How exactly is he the best thing to have ever happened to Britain?
Ignore the Irag war and being Bush's poodle, but what else has he done? He failed to get rid of the House of Lords, he failed to reform the NHS, he is slowly eroding our civil rights, his whole office has been a shocking system of 'knee jerk' politics (Asbos, Terrorism orders etc), yes he has done some good, I'm a labour voter, but he is definately not the best thing ever to happen to Britain. He would have been if he'd held true to his manifesto though.

Answer 10

Because hes George Bushes English poodle. Its a fact!