Tony Blair’s third term in officer is nearly at end. In 1997 he achieved what was thought impossible. After years of working class discontent (the closing of important industries, the minors strike, privatisation, poll tax, etc), and a new leader in John Major who showed major Cabinet weakness, Conservative government found itself at an end. Blair brought the Labour Party around to defeat almost two decades of Conservative government with New Labour and became the second longest running Prime Minister of the century. He changed the face of the UK along the way, leaving it almost unrecognisable to how he found it. We are now living in a time where party politics seem almost dead, with relatively little difference existing between the manifestos of the Conservatives and Labour. Add Blair’s taste for a presidential style, not dissimilar to Lady Thatcher’s, and it would be easy to argue that Blair simply continued where the New Right left off, inheriting and nurturing a Conservative ideal of free market economics and instinct for strict law and order. Others would argue the Labour Government under his leadership simply became more practical and pragmatic. We have seen countless reforms alien to the socialist ideas of Old Labour, a war with the Middle East, and a disastrous mess in domestic and foreign policies. And now, as we see the sun setting on the horizon of Mr. Blairs leadership of Britain, we must ask ourselves, what has he left us?
Labour Government ignorance and unwillingness to foot the bill for new cleaning products has left the National Health Service a breeding ground for deadly hospital ‘superbugs’ such as MRSA, leading to countless infections and deaths. Meanwhile waiting lists continue to spiral out of control, with many turning Private. Labour Health Minister Patricia Hewitt’s solutions to these problems show the Labour Governments complete lack of respect and care for this prized health institution. Policies such as denying treatment to smokers, heavy drinkers, or those over weight, shows total disregard to people who pay heavy taxes towards the treasury in order to engage in these habits, and suggests a blatant encroachment on their individual liberty. Her latest statement that Labour constituencies should be able to spend more money on their health facilities, since Tory constituencies are often healthier to begin with is disgraceful in its disregard for simple ideas of social equality. This is the treatment of our nations’ health under Blair.
Meanwhile, in terms of law and order, polls suggest that Britain has not only become one of the leading binge-drinking nations under Blair, but also the one with the most violent, disobedient youth in all Europe. Blair’s attempts to curb this trend have been weak and have ultimately failed. The introduction of the ASBO simply brought about a badge of achievement to a generation prided on its anti-work ethic, while passing the responsibility to parents in public addresses shows a total lack of strength and stamina in his governments’ ability to deal with this standard issue. With families living under more pressure than ever to deal with their children’s success and behaviour, and communities in fear of hooded hooligans, Blair – for all intents and purposes – has failed again.
On our borders Blair has made a noble gesture in mass-immigration to the UK for those fleeing tyranny and deprivation (unlike most of our European counterparts), as well as to further the economy and diversity of the nation. Unfortunately he has gone about this entirely the wrong way. Thousands of foreigners faking asylum status have by-passed checks while even more illegal immigrants have crossed from France and vanished into society, leaving no way to trace who is here. While always one to embrace diversity and the welcoming of new people to our land, this unmanaged form of immigration leaves no one a winner. Only in an anarchist world devoid of religion, discrimination or nations can a ‘let them in and leave them to it’ mentality work. It all boils down to the appearance of ghetto’s, the breakdown of social cohesion, the distrust of different ethnic groups from each other and the indigenous population, and finally violence. Blair has attempted to do the right thing, but entirely half-heartedly and unintelligently.
Unfortunately, the Blair Government’s solutions to these problems of law, order and immigration are ones requiring the destruction of our civil liberties and the creation of a big brother state. Identification Cards carrying our irises, fingerprints and DNA are currently being pushed through legislation, all information to be added to a DNA database. Police officers are being proposed the right to pull drivers over and take down their fingerprints on the spot, with a punishment of £2,500 if denied, or ID card fails to be produced. Another rise in the countries CCTV cameras is also on the agenda, despite the fact Britain has become the most watched nation on earth.
That is not to say nothing of any value has been done by the Labour Government in terms of domestic policy. The Sure Start Programme has brought a second chance to thousands of disadvantaged teenagers, while the increase in the minimum wage has helped relieve the stress of many working class peoples lives. With the help of the anti-Old Labour policy of privitisation and bedding in with big business, the economy has never been stronger, with constant growth (despite the rise in taxes and rumoured billions owed in international debt).
Constitutionally Blair has continued to mess up. Devolution has failed in Northern Ireland, was welcomed lukewarm in Wales, where their present assembly has almost no power at all, and finally got off to an atrocious start in Scotland, with a delayed Parliament sponging millions out of taxpayers pockets. Blair’s promise to dismiss the 1,400 year old post of Lord Chancellor, thereby bringing about a total separation of Executive, Legislative and Judicial powers in Parliament has never happened. And finally his reform of the House of Lords has led to a huge ‘Cash for Peerages’ scandal in which New Labour has been seen to turn the Lords into a money-making scheme giving out Lordships in return for cash, and making a mockery of our bicameral democratic system. Also, as this article is written, it seems this part of Blair’s legacy could even be leading to the eventual split of the United Kingdom itself, as opinion polls show strong support in England and Scotland for a division and complete independence. This will cost needless billions more of tax payers cash, and reduce Great Britain to two weaker, less prosperous nations.
In terms of foreign policy and international relations, we don’t fare much better. The winning of the Olympic Games for 2012 was first seen as a great achievement for Britain, but over time it is gradually being seen for all of its flaws. Despite the rumoured leaps in regeneration for London, and especially the East End, figures are now beginning to suggest that the cost of hosting the games will eventually outweigh any of the benefits. The youth of Britain has also been left out in the cold, after being used as a major card in London’s play for the Games, they have had virtually nothing to do with any of the plans and received little of the benefit. It is, however, a matter of time far surpassing Blairs legacy in Britain as to whether these games will be a success.
In terms of environment, it must be admitted that Blair has achieved a little better. He has lowered carbon emissions in Britain, and done much work abroad to bring about similar progress in foreign countries. His suggestion of a green tax on cars is another huge leap, which will push people out of their gas-guzzling cars onto more ozone-friendly public transport. This will only work however, if the government begins to understand that public transport therefore must not rise in price, as it has been consecutively over the last few years.
The biggest news stories of the last few years involve Blairs failure in our foreign policy with the Middle East, news so well-known and global that I will not go into a huge amount of detail here, preferring instead to focus on the more domestic side of Blairs legacy. We have engaged in two wars in the middle east and are loosing them both. The War in Iraq ignored millions of protestors throughout the nation and went against international law, making it illegal. Confusion over our role in the European Union has continued to grow, and our links with the United States of America has severely damaged our alliances elsewhere in the world, while making us a major target for terrorist groups.
These are all facts, not opinions. But as usual in the world of politics, style without substance can rain supreme, so I went out on the streets of London to question the public and discover what they think about Blair and his legacy to Britain.
Dominic Howard from Manchester reasoned “I hate what Blair has done to this country. I remember when the Conservatives were in power. It wasn’t perfect, but a dam sight better than what we have now. I pay my taxes regular and on time, yet I feel most of it seems to be going towards immigrants, criminals, and stupid legislation programmes such as CCTV, ASBOs, and court cases which should not even be recognised”.
Sarah Donahue from Camden Town, London, had little more to add. “Blair has ruined this country. I went on the march against the War in Iraq. For someone who is supposed to represent Britain and be our national voice, he completely ignored the nations will and did what he wanted to do on that issue. With the whole scandal that surrounded it, it makes you think ‘what else is the government covering up to take its own path’?”
William Smith from Hackney argued in Blair’s defence. “We had to do what we had to do in the middle east. We rely on the United States and it was in our best interests to go out there and fight for democracy. Blair is not just a slave to public opinion, he is supposed to be doing what is right for his country, knowing more than the public can ever know on these matters. We need immigration for our economy and the minimum wage has helped dozens of people in my constituency over the last decade”.
However, Mr. Smiths argument seems to fall on deaf ears for the rest of the international community. Pier Seres from Canada claimed “My country and most of the people in Britain feel very let down by Mr. Blair’s actions over the last six years. He seems to care about nothing else other than his own individual legacy, and in doing so has let himself down”.
Lastly Lilian Ngagua from Congo, who has been living in Britain for forty years, stated “I have lived in Britain for so many years, and understand the benefits immigration has brought new arrivals and the indigenous population. Yet I feel Mr. Blair has gone crazy with power on this subject. He is ruining social cohesion throughout the nation with his political correctness and open-to-everyone national policies. He is drying us up and killing us as a country. I do not feel his slavery to the E.U. has helped”.
These are just a few of dozens of thoughts I found throughout London, all pointing at a distaste for Blair, New Labour and the present Cabinet. Blair seems to be holding a despaired legacy before him, much like that of Mrs. Thatcher. If he is remembered in good terms at all, it will probably be simple respect for his achievements in terms of advancing his party, and will almost certainly be overshadowed by the possibly broken nation he will leave behind. Blair is still in power as this article goes to print, and he still has time, so only time will tell.