Posted on 04/06/2005 5:58:59 PM PDT by neverdem
LONDON, April 5 - After months of speculation and political maneuvering, Prime Minister Tony Blair called Tuesday for an election on May 5, seeking a record-setting third term in office by offering voters "a big and positive vision for the future of our country."
Mr. Blair is already Britain's longest-serving Labor prime minister, and a third consecutive term would be the first on record for his party.
The announcement coincided with a wave of opinion surveys suggesting that Mr. Blair's Labor Party was losing ground to the opposition Conservatives. On Tuesday, Michael Howard, the Conservative leader, urged Britons to choose "a better way" because Mr. Blair's government had "lost the plot."
May 5 had long been talked about as the most likely day for a contest that will be fought over issues ranging from the war in Iraq to the economy and public services, particularly education, police action against crime and the services offered by the National Health Service.
"Our mission will be driven by values," Mr. Blair declared after visiting Buckingham Palace to seek Queen Elizabeth II's agreement to dissolve Parliament - a ceremonial step opening what is sure to be a fierce campaign.
A central argument for Mr. Blair is likely to be that Labor has managed the British economy well and still has work to do. "This is the time to keep the progress going, move the country forward," he said in Dorset in southwest England in his first campaign appearance.
Many political analysts in Britain have argued that Mr. Blair is virtually assured of victory because it would take an enormous swing toward the Conservatives to wipe out his commanding majority of around 160 seats in the 646-seat Parliament.
But opinion surveys published in three newspapers on Tuesday showed Labor leading by only two to three percentage points, while a fourth poll based on the views of people who say they are certain of voting actually gave the Conservatives a 5-point lead.
Since the British electoral system favors Labor's urban power base, even a margin of that magnitude would not translate into a Conservative majority at the polls. But if Mr. Blair's majority is seriously eroded, he could be viewed as a lame duck leader - particularly because he has said he will not seek a fourth term. That, British political analysts maintain, would probably hasten his handing the torch to Gordon Brown, the chancellor of the exchequer and Mr. Blair's longstanding rival within the Labor Party.
Another big challenge for Mr. Blair is to overcome voter apathy after two elections that gave him landslide majorities in the eight years since he first won power in 1997. To do that, he suggested Tuesday, he will embark on a personal campaign to try to restore the inspirational aura that surrounded his first few years as prime minister.
He spoke of "a belief that we should create a country where regardless of someone's class or background or race, or color or religion, they get the chance to make the most of themselves, to develop their potential to the full. And through them, the country gets its chance to develop its potential."
"So it's a big choice. It's a big decision," Mr. Blair said. "The British people are the boss, and they are the ones that will make it."
Mr. Howard, the opposition leader, told his supporters that Mr. Blair was "already secretly grinning about the prospect of his third victory."
"Well," he said, "you don't have to settle for that."
Pool photo by Stefan Rousseau
Prime Minister Tony Blair taking a photograph of himself on a mobile phone on a visit to a sailing academy in Dorset, in southwest England, yesterday. The visit was his first campaign appearance in elections set for May.
PhotoShop®?
I don't understand the Tories at all. If they just ran on two big issues--crime and independence from Europe--they'd win in a landslide.
But no one in Britain wants to appear "American" so instead they just sound like a mild version of Labour. The Tories' Iraq policy is so opaque it's disgraceful, but that's another story.
What do you mean?
Tories need another Thatcher
Blair will win, I guarantee it. I'll eat the proverbial hat factory if he doesn't.
Incidentally, he's in my home town of Weymouth, in that photograph. Key marginal seat.
There seems to be a fair amount of disenchantment with Tony. I won't be surprised if the Liberal Democrats pull the rug out from under him.
This is the most poorly written headline ever.
""a big and positive vision for the future of our country.""
If i knew how to post images I would be posting a copy a cover of orwell's 1984 AND the london tube posters 'Secure beneath the Watchful Eyes"
actually those posters were for london buses, not the tube....does anyone know where I can get one or get the full-size image file they are printed from?
Yes, that's my impression. You can read about about them here.
Not any more, they aren't. Union influence on the Party is now vestigial following the big purges and constitutional changes of the early 90s, which made Labour electable in 1997. And what's this guff about 'compulsory tithes to the church'??
I offer you 25/1 odds if you want to bet against Blair winning. My friend Will has £15k of his savings riding on a Labour victory - he's a tory as well.
You're on. Everyone's a winner baby. (well, except you on this one).
Not a chance.
Not a chance of what, Blair losing or the Liberal Democrats winning? I'll agree that the latter is unlikely, but Blair angered a good deal of Labor voters with his support for the war in Iraq. They could stay home or vote for the Liberal Democrats.
The used car salesman smile so Clinton like but then so are the policies.
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