Tony Blair's Third Term. A New York Times editorial about an important American ally.
Tony Blair's Third Term
Tony Blair still owns the center ground in British politics, but no longer dominates it. That was the message of his historic third straight victory this week, the longest winning streak in Labor Party history.
Labor deserved to win. During its eight years in office, it has managed the British economy well and restored needed funds to public services while initiating overdue reforms. Neither of Labor's main rivals, the Conservatives on the right and the Liberal Democrats on the left, convinced enough voters that they could do better, although both gained ground since the last national vote four years ago. As a result, Mr. Blair will be constrained by a much narrower parliamentary majority.
That relative setback was equally deserved. British voters across the political spectrum have come to recognize that Mr. Blair misled the country when he took it into an unjustified and highly unpopular war in Iraq. The election results may or may not speed the transition to Mr. Blair's presumed Labor Party successor, Gordon Brown, the chancellor of the Exchequer, but Iraq has clearly damaged Mr. Blair's personal standing and credibility, even among Labor voters and members of Parliament.
The lesson here is that British leaders will need to be more candid and careful in the future, at least when it comes to vital issues like war and peace. Mr. Blair could have signaled that he recognized that by bringing some of Labor's antiwar voices back into his cabinet. Instead, he stuck with personal loyalists.
The Conservatives might have been able to pull even closer if their leader, Michael Howard, had run a more appealing campaign. By making a particularly nasty strain of immigrant-bashing his principal theme, Mr. Howard managed to stir bad memories of the most hardhearted and xenophobic features of Thatcherism, while leaving Mr. Blair to run off with the more attractive parts. Mr. Howard's decision to give up the party leadership in the very near future can only be applauded.
Tony Blair remains a remarkable political performer. His personal appeal, verbal quickness and tactical focus played a crucial role in leading Labor back from 18 years in the political wilderness to its current role as the most plausible governing party. After a solid, though not resounding, third victory, he has gained a new chance to win back the doubters and solidify his legacy.
(5-7-05, The New York Times.)
Tony Blair still owns the center ground in British politics, but no longer dominates it. That was the message of his historic third straight victory this week, the longest winning streak in Labor Party history.
Labor deserved to win. During its eight years in office, it has managed the British economy well and restored needed funds to public services while initiating overdue reforms. Neither of Labor's main rivals, the Conservatives on the right and the Liberal Democrats on the left, convinced enough voters that they could do better, although both gained ground since the last national vote four years ago. As a result, Mr. Blair will be constrained by a much narrower parliamentary majority.
That relative setback was equally deserved. British voters across the political spectrum have come to recognize that Mr. Blair misled the country when he took it into an unjustified and highly unpopular war in Iraq. The election results may or may not speed the transition to Mr. Blair's presumed Labor Party successor, Gordon Brown, the chancellor of the Exchequer, but Iraq has clearly damaged Mr. Blair's personal standing and credibility, even among Labor voters and members of Parliament.
The lesson here is that British leaders will need to be more candid and careful in the future, at least when it comes to vital issues like war and peace. Mr. Blair could have signaled that he recognized that by bringing some of Labor's antiwar voices back into his cabinet. Instead, he stuck with personal loyalists.
The Conservatives might have been able to pull even closer if their leader, Michael Howard, had run a more appealing campaign. By making a particularly nasty strain of immigrant-bashing his principal theme, Mr. Howard managed to stir bad memories of the most hardhearted and xenophobic features of Thatcherism, while leaving Mr. Blair to run off with the more attractive parts. Mr. Howard's decision to give up the party leadership in the very near future can only be applauded.
Tony Blair remains a remarkable political performer. His personal appeal, verbal quickness and tactical focus played a crucial role in leading Labor back from 18 years in the political wilderness to its current role as the most plausible governing party. After a solid, though not resounding, third victory, he has gained a new chance to win back the doubters and solidify his legacy.
(5-7-05, The New York Times.)
posted by Sid Cottingham | 9:08 AM
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