Lando 
Posted on 05/06/2005 5:36:10 AM PDT by MadIvan
Tony Blair may have secured a historic third term for the Labour Party last night but the reduction in the size of his majority will significantly change the way in which he is able to act.
His power and his position in the party have depended almost entirely on the perception since his landslide victory in 1997 that he is a winner. In many parts of the country that has now been undermined.
Last night's result could make it more difficult for the Prime Minister to stay in office for the whole of the next Parliament as he promised to do when he said last year that he intended to stand down.
Mr Blair's allies have been admitting privately for several weeks that he would almost certainly have to resign if the Labour majority fell below 60. In the view of many Blairites, 60 to 70 was a grey area which would leave the party leader severely weakened.
Yesterday, before the result was declared, some ministers close to the Labour leader said he would stay at Number 10 for as long as possible.
Other Blairites, though, have detected a change in the Prime Minister's mood during a difficult campaign.
"I think he'll go in about 18 months," said one loyal minister earlier in the week. "Whatever the outcome of the election, he's been badly damaged by the campaign."
Another Labour strategist admitted that Mr Blair's morale had been badly affected by the criticisms he had received from voters on the stump.
"Tony has been shocked by the level of hostility to him personally in the run-up to polling day. No one can know what effect that will have."
However long Mr Blair decides to stay in Downing Street, the reduction in the size of Labour's parliamentary majority will make it much more difficult for him to do what he wants.
The Government will struggle to get controversial legislation, such as proposals to introduce identity cards, on to the statute book now that the number of Labour MPs has been reduced.
Mr Blair may find it hard to implement "unremittingly New Labour" reforms of the public services with a smaller and potentially more rebellious parliamentary party. This month's Queen's Speech is expected to include around 40 Bills.
These will put forward proposals to increase the role of the private sector in the running of state services, plans to create a points system for immigration, and measures to give parents more power to close down failing schools.
Several of these pieces of proposed legislation will be controversial with Labour backbenchers, who are likely to feel emboldened.
Mr Blair may also find it harder to assert his authority on a number of big policy issues, not dealt with in the Labour manifesto, which are due to come to a head in the next six months.
Adair Turner's review of pensions and Sir Michael Lyons's review of local government funding, both due to report before the end of the year, will provoke wide-ranging discussions about the future of savings and the fate of the council tax.
This summer, Labour intends to initiate a public debate on energy policy, which will consider whether the role of nuclear power stations should be increased.
At the same time the Government will consult voters about proposals to replace the road tax with a road pricing system, which would see motorists charged according to the distance they drive.
Hanging over the whole Parliament, meanwhile, will be the question of whether Labour will have to raise taxes again to fund its plans for the public services. Nobody knows whether the love-in between Mr Blair and the Chancellor will continue once the common goal of victory has gone, but the election result is likely to strengthen Gordon Brown's hand.
Most insiders believe that an understanding has been reached between the two on the future of the Government and of their own careers.
In return for the Chancellor's support, Mr Blair has signalled his intention to endorse Mr Brown to succeed him as Labour leader. The handover may come more quickly now.
I love the freedom to being able to driveor walk though any part of town I would like without the risk of getting shot up or assaulted.
It's great.
The thing is the Conservative Party is seen as the English Party in Scotland and thought not to care for Scotland. Places like Edinburgh are extremely affluent and also naturally "Conservative" but vote for the Lib Dems to avoid voting Socialist Labour.
Maybe you could just take a vacation and come back at a later time. Whatever you decide, I just want you to know that I do appreciate your country standing next to ours and our president. God Bless you and I hope you decide to return one day.
BlueAngel (Texas)
Sure it isn't just spring fever? ;)
Seriously Mad, do stop and smell the flowers but don't forget your good friends here, ok?
Because some American FReepers are morons.
Yes well, as you demonstrate so well, the difference between expressing opinion and caustic passion seems to lie only in who is giving and who is receiving. Which brings up a good point or two. Some of this is inevitable. Humans are emotional creatures. Often -- not always -- the blame lies on both sides. One side dishes out too much and the other side wears its feelings on its sleeves. More frequently still, each side plays both rolls -- arrow thrower and wounded dramatist. (I am not referring to Ivan here.) No one thinks THEY are guilty. Truth be told, we are probably all guilty at some time or another. It is difficult to be perfect in this regard, especially on issues you personally find outrageous. So we just go on, doing the best we can. Hopefully that will be good enough to keep a strong base.
Ivan, don't let the turkeys get you down. I love your country, spent time there last year and was treated warmly. How can FR achieve the balance and free exchange of ideas if you (and others like you) get chicken feet and bail out?? Not a good idea. (And pardon the mix of metaphors.)
Those with extreme opinions don't represent the majority of us. As in all societies, including cyberspace, there are always those who make the noise and those who get the real work done.
That said, if you insist on going, all the best to you.
rolls = roles. LOL! I always do that.
Hello Cooper72,
Posters like that I just tend to smile slightly at, shake my head, and go on happily ignoring whatever they wrote down.
Cheers.
I hope that MadIvan decides to stay, and I'll simply leave it at that.
The arguments may have been my fault as I wrongly presumed you were the Plastic Paddy (Uk Citizen with an Irish great-grandfather) I meet quite often who hates all things British yet is quite happy to take our freedoms.
Maybe the real Irish are more mature! ;-)
No the poster is just pointing out that we are as free as you
Lando
LOL. Thanks.
Here is another Brit who support and supported Margret Thatcher (current hero John Redwood)
Most likely!
I don't know of any bashing of Brits (other than the occasional bad teeth joke) around here, but then again I'm not British so it wouldn't be something I'd pick up on normally.
I don't know how anyone could bash the UK as a whole, given her staunch support of the US post-911 and beyond. Might I suggest that you are focusing on a tiny minority around here?
I haven't been here as long as you so you may have a better perspective but I would hope you would reconsider. I enjoy reading from the British perspective vis a vis conservatism.
New ping list?
I agree. I guess my only point was that gun rights is not neccessarily the sole measure of freedom. I know there are arguments made that gun rights secure the other freedoms, and that is I guess another whole debate by itself.
I just feel sometimes the debate can be enhanced by not being so absolutist. Dare I say it, that some nuance is sometimes called for. OK, now, I'll go hide shamefully in a corner for the rest of the night for sounding like Kerry :-)
Anyways, I agree totally, Ivan should stay.
Have a great weekend you too, will you..
Cheers,
Euro.
The media influence on the folks are seemingly unavoidable. You are an honorable man and I have visited your country. If I ever desire to retire and sell-off, I want to live in Dunvegan, Isle of Skye, Scotland. It's a peaceful place full of nice people. A bus can take me and my fishing pole to the ocean for a day. All I have to do for heat is burn some peat.
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