At last history is finally giving Tony Blair the credit he deserves, during a time when credit is hard to come by.
“somebody who did it first and perhaps did it better than I will do.”
Above the words of Barak Obama, the most popular world leader on the planet at the moment one could argue. Many today appear to be surprised however that he lavishes praise so highly upon TB. But is it surprising that Obama would wish to align himself with a politician who it is widely known, was so highly popular amongst Americans that at one time they would have chosen him for their leader if given half a chance. One poll a few years back in the US said that 83 percent of Americans trusted Tony Blair and with both conservative and liberals supporting him. This is why it can be argued that Obama, who wishes to replicate that public support and build a coalition similar to that, is Tony Blair’s natural successor. This is something that Obama publicly acknowledges:
“He has been an example for so many people around the world of what dedicated leadership can accomplish”.
But for those of you who are wondering why? Well, here are a few reasons why even Mr Cameron has called TB “remarkable”. The achievements of Tony Blair’s premiership are ones which Obama and any world leader would love to aspire to.
Northern Ireland.
Although some argue John Major began negotiations it was Tony Blair’s ability at getting people to sit down at the negotiating table to talk that the discussions to a conclusion. The latter is a view shared by two politically opposed American presidents and lessons that need to be learnt if a solution in the Middle East is ever going to be achieved.
Education.
So important he said it three times and increased spending to levels unseen before. I am one of Blair’s babes (in the educational sense) and under his premiership I was the first generation of my family to access higher education through his policy of EMAs and increase in funding that went towards inner city state schools coupled with the commitment for more state school pupils to go onto university.
Crime and a more tolerant society.
The streets are safer now than they were before Tony Blair was in office. Tough on crime and the causes of crime opened a debate on not only how to tackle crime but also how to prevent it. Preventative policing was championed under TB. Crime statistics show an 18 percent drop in reported crime and more police numbers on the streets than ever before. As for society and the police force, the removal of institutional racism from within the force not only brought racial harmony within the force but also within society. Racially motivated assaults are now more widely recorded than ever before, and as the last weeks race row confirms the tolerance society now demands. The inclusion and recognition of the gay community within our society through his many policies that included; their permission within the arm services, civil partnerships and adoption rights. Contrast that with Cameron who opposed Section 28 and described it as a “fringe” issue.
The Third World and Climate Change.
The environment came to the fore of politics under his leadership. Climate change was pursued with targets to limit emissions and a global debate on it reduction ignited. Live Aid and the reduction in Third World debt was an area that without the support given to it by Tony Blair would never have had such a sonorous effect on other world leaders. Compare that with leading conservatives in this country who describe third world people as piccaninnies and wind turbines as pigeon death traps. Obama describes these people rightly as “light weight”.
What one must conclude is that where Blair led others followed. The march by conservatives to the centre ground is not only apparent in this country but also in the USA. The reason why Tony Blair was able to achieve all this was by his policy of inclusion on political lines, not through the ideological pigeon holing that came before him. Barak Obama has realized this and that is why he wishes to follow the path trail blazed by Tony Blair that only by focusing on values and not ideologues will progress ever be achieved.
Obama and Tony Blair are you saying Obama is a lier a war monger , I hope not as for Blair the best thing he can do is move to America .
Posted by: Robert | Friday, February 20, 2009 at 12:16 PM