Tony Blair: return of the man?

[RogerThat]

All very confusing, but I'm sure it's just a simple misunderstanding

Back to the OP : Tony Blair = War Criminal.

[Mick F]

What counts in an election is getting more votes than the other party in that election.

Nope.
What counts in elections, is getting more MPs ............ not votes.

Yes but it's votes that elect MPs and part from the aberration of 1951 the party with the most votes gets the most MPs.

Since then - up until the last election - we've had a two party system, so what you say is true.

Trouble is, those days are gone, and the party with the most MPs may not be able to form a government. Maybe far from it.
Parliament will have to sort it out, not the electorate.

We've had a two party system for far too long. Democracy will perhaps come to the fore at last, and I for one look forward to it.

[Psamathe]

...
Since then - up until the last election - we've had a two party system, so what you say is true.

Trouble is, those days are gone, and the party with the most MPs may not be able to form a government. Maybe far from it.
Parliament will have to sort it out, not the electorate.

We've had a two party system for far too long. Democracy will perhaps come to the fore at last, and I for one look forward to it.

I'm not sure quite how far we have moved from the traditional two party system. Ok we've just had a coalition for a few years, and there is lots and lots of talk in the press about "end of two party system ...". The LibDems doing well last election is looking like it may have been something of an exception as the don't look like they will be repeating their previous performance this election. Similarly, loads of talk about UKIP, but polls are showing they are unlikely to achieve the result they expect (last poll I saw was for them getting just the one MP). I think the biggest "blip" is the SNP is Scotland which could be a "blip" caused by Labour's recent performances (i.e. New Labour being somewhat right wing and their involvement in the "Better Together" campaign) as well as the impact of the recent Scotland Independence referendum. Also, in many respects SNP are probably closer to where Labour should be (i.e. Left wing).

Trouble is that however well the "minor parties" do, we still have two main parties one of which will be in power possibly needing the support of another "minor party". In such a situation, the supporting party does not really get much of a say in what happens (the Lib Dems like to make a lot of noise about what they have done, but it's mostly what Cameron and his mates want). So rather than things being "the end of two party politics" I wonder if what we are seeing is more that the two parties are fairy evenly matched in terms of numbers.

I agree about the two party system not really working, but do wonder if we have really seen the end of it.

Ian
(I hope I have not messed up the quote thing as it complained about embedded quites and I had to edit it a few times to hopefully get it right)

[RogerThat]

Boris Johnson's view of the illustrious Tony Blair :

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... rship-vote

[pete75]

Boris Johnson's view of the illustrious Tony Blair :

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... rship-vote

If Johnson doesn't like him there must be some good in the man.

[RogerThat]

Well, at least Johnson is not one if the Lily livered 'for god sake don't say Anything Controversial' brand of politician. It's for his outspoken, if probably gruff yet accurate statements he'll likely be the next Tory leader in opposition. Condom head has had his day, and soon his chips...

[pete75]

Well, at least Johnson is not one if the Lily livered 'for god sake don't say Anything Controversial' brand of politician. It's for his outspoken, if probably gruff yet accurate statements he'll likely be the next Tory leader in opposition. Condom head has had his day, and soon his chips...

Johnson is the licenced court jester of the Tory party. He's outspoken because he's been given that licence.

[RogerThat]

Or so he'd have you believe... He's probably the sharpest 'sleeper' politician of his generation. If you can get good odds as Johnson as next Tory party leader, grab em while you can.

[pete75]

He's probably the sharpest 'sleeper' politician of his generation. If you can get good odds as Johnson as next Tory party leader, grab em while you can.

Or so he'd have you believe... If UKIP do well under a charismatic right wing leader the Tories will almost certainly want the same - enter Boris.....

[The Mechanic]

Is this the same Tony Blair that started two wars in the Middle East and then got a lucrative job as Middle East Peace Envoy - priceless!

[RogerThat]

Same socialist prime minister, estimated personal worth :
£100 million pounds...

[Sooper8]

Same socialist prime minister, estimated personal worth :
£100 million pounds...

Oh please, don't grace him with the word socialist...He was rightful heir to Thatcher, is big mates with and is role model for Cameron and is a war criminal. He started NHS sell off, and kicked off the disastrous PFI for schools and hospitals.
He even gave his mate at Capita a knighthood for services for destroying the public sector.
Socialists and none socialists alike marched the streets of London in one of the biggest rallies in modern times to oppose that war.
So, although I take your point about his wealth...he is not a socialist in any sense of the word.

[CREPELLO]

Is there anybody who really believes that Blair was a socialist? I think Rogerthat was being ironic

[reohn2]

Same socialist prime minister, estimated personal worth :
£100 million pounds...

Oh please, don't grace him with the word socialist...He was rightful heir to Thatcher, is big mates with and is role model for Cameron and is a war criminal. He started NHS sell off, and kicked off the disastrous PFI for schools and hospitals.
He even gave his mate at Capita a knighthood for services for destroying the public sector.
Socialists and none socialists alike marched the streets of London in one of the biggest rallies in modern times to oppose that war.
So, although I take your point about his wealth...he is not a socialist in any sense of the word.

+1

[pete75]

Same socialist prime minister, estimated personal worth :
£100 million pounds...

Now is it really the case that people on the left have to be poor and those on the right rich?

I find it odd though that people of the right criticise Tony Blair - after all he is one of them, but given Conservative's sense of entitlement what they can't forgive him for is keeping them out of office at three successive general elections.