Blair will stand down on 27 June
Byrnzie
Posts: 21,037
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6639945.stm
Thursday, 10 May 2007, 12:38 GMT 13:38 UK
Blair will stand down on 27 June
Mr Blair's announcement will trigger the leadership contest
Tony Blair has announced he will stand down as prime minister on 27 June.
He made the announcement in a speech to party activists in his Sedgefield constituency, after earlier briefing the Cabinet on his plans.
He acknowledged his government had not always lived up to high expectations but said he had been very lucky to lead "the greatest nation on earth".
He will stay on in Downing Street until the Labour Party elects a new leader - widely expected to be Gordon Brown.
In an emotional speech, Mr Blair said he had been prime minister for 10 years which was "long enough" for the country and himself.
He thanked the British people for their support and apologised for when "I have fallen short".
Terror threat
He said expectations had probably been "too high" in 1997, but he insisted living standards had improved under Labour.
"There is only one government since 1945 that can say all of the following: more jobs, fewer unemployed, better health and education results, lower crime and economic growth in every quarter. Only one government, this one."
The British are special... this is the greatest nation on earth
Tony Blair
Key quotes: Blair speech
The Tony Blair story
On foreign policy, Mr Blair acknowledged the terrorist "blow back" from the "bitterly controversial" invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan and he urged Britain to stay the course in the fight against terror.
"I decided we should stand shoulder to shoulder with our oldest ally, and I did so out of belief," he said of his decision to back the war in Iraq.
'Blessed'
It was for others to judge whether he had made mistakes, he added, but said he had always done what he thought was "right".
"I may have been wrong. That's your call.
I think he would have preferred to stay longer
Alan Milburn
Q&A: What happens now?
Historians' verdicts on Blair
"But believe one thing if nothing else, I did what I thought was right for our country. And I came into office with high hopes for Britain's future, and, you know, I leave it with even higher hopes for Britain's future."
In conclusion, he said: "Actually I've been lucky and very blessed. And this country is a blessed nation.
"The British are special - the world knows it, in our innermost thoughts we know it. This is the greatest nation on earth."
Brown tribute
Mr Blair was given a standing ovation by around 250 Labour activists and members who had crammed into the tiny bar of Trimdon Labour Club to see him off.
Waving hand-written placards reading "Sedgefield Loves Tony", "10 Great Years", "Thank You" and "Britain is Better", the crowd cheered as Mr Blair embraced his agent John Burton and wife Cherie.
Earlier, Gordon Brown paid tribute to Mr Blair's leadership, praising "his unique achievement over 10 years and the unique leadership he had given to the party, Britain and the world".
His comments were greeted by "much thumping of tables" by Cabinet colleagues, the prime minister's official spokesman told reporters.
Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said it had been a "cordial, comradely" meeting with "quite a lot of laughter" and "leg-pulling".
Mr Hain, who is a candidate for Labour's deputy leadership, said Mr Brown would now "take up Tony Blair's mantle in the next period of our government".
'Good years'
Mr Blair's election agent and close friend John Burton said he expected Mr Blair to continue as Sedgefield's MP until the next general election, unless he was offered a major international job.
Former Cabinet minister and Blair ally Alan Milburn said thought the prime minister "slightly regretted pre-announcing his retirement" by saying he would not seek a fourth term.
He's going of his own choice - he's doing it at a time which he thinks is good for the country
Peter Mandelson
Blair quits: Reaction
In Pics: Blair announcement
Blair quits: your comments
"I think he would have preferred to stay longer," added Mr Milburn but he said the prime minister had had "a good 10 years" and had "fundamentally changed the country for the better".
Mr Blair's official spokesman insists he will remain "focused" on being prime minister until Labour has chosen his successor - a process expected to last seven weeks.
He said Mr Blair still has lots of work to do on domestic issues and had a number of international commitments in the run-up to this summer's G8 and EU summits.
But with a new prime minister expected to be in place by the beginning of July, attention at Westminster has already shifted to his succession.
Mr Brown is unlikely to face a Cabinet-level challenge for the leadership as all of the likely contenders have ruled themselves out.
'Paralysis'
But he could still face a challenge from one of two left wing backbenchers - John McDonnell and Michael Meacher. The pair are meeting later to see if one of them can muster enough support to get on to the ballot paper.
Candidates need the signatures of 45 Labour MPs to enter a contest.
Shortly after Mr Blair's announcement, the deputy prime minister and deputy Labour leader John Prescott also announced his intention to stand down.
Nick Robinson
We have grown used to having a leader who is always centre stage
BBC political editor Nick Robinson
Read Nick's thoughts in full
Six deputy leadership hopefuls are already battling for nominations to enter the race to replace Mr Prescott.
Conservative leader David Cameron has said the country faces seven weeks of "paralysis" until Labour chooses a new leader, accusing Mr Blair of running a government of the "living dead".
The Liberal Democrats have, meanwhile, tabled a Parliamentary motion urging the Queen to dissolve parliament and call a general election.
But European Union Trade Commissioner and close Blair ally, Peter Mandelson, denied that Mr Blair's last weeks in office would be as a lame duck leader.
"He's going of his own choice. He's doing it at a time which he thinks is good for the country, is good for the government."
Thursday, 10 May 2007, 12:38 GMT 13:38 UK
Blair will stand down on 27 June
Mr Blair's announcement will trigger the leadership contest
Tony Blair has announced he will stand down as prime minister on 27 June.
He made the announcement in a speech to party activists in his Sedgefield constituency, after earlier briefing the Cabinet on his plans.
He acknowledged his government had not always lived up to high expectations but said he had been very lucky to lead "the greatest nation on earth".
He will stay on in Downing Street until the Labour Party elects a new leader - widely expected to be Gordon Brown.
In an emotional speech, Mr Blair said he had been prime minister for 10 years which was "long enough" for the country and himself.
He thanked the British people for their support and apologised for when "I have fallen short".
Terror threat
He said expectations had probably been "too high" in 1997, but he insisted living standards had improved under Labour.
"There is only one government since 1945 that can say all of the following: more jobs, fewer unemployed, better health and education results, lower crime and economic growth in every quarter. Only one government, this one."
The British are special... this is the greatest nation on earth
Tony Blair
Key quotes: Blair speech
The Tony Blair story
On foreign policy, Mr Blair acknowledged the terrorist "blow back" from the "bitterly controversial" invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan and he urged Britain to stay the course in the fight against terror.
"I decided we should stand shoulder to shoulder with our oldest ally, and I did so out of belief," he said of his decision to back the war in Iraq.
'Blessed'
It was for others to judge whether he had made mistakes, he added, but said he had always done what he thought was "right".
"I may have been wrong. That's your call.
I think he would have preferred to stay longer
Alan Milburn
Q&A: What happens now?
Historians' verdicts on Blair
"But believe one thing if nothing else, I did what I thought was right for our country. And I came into office with high hopes for Britain's future, and, you know, I leave it with even higher hopes for Britain's future."
In conclusion, he said: "Actually I've been lucky and very blessed. And this country is a blessed nation.
"The British are special - the world knows it, in our innermost thoughts we know it. This is the greatest nation on earth."
Brown tribute
Mr Blair was given a standing ovation by around 250 Labour activists and members who had crammed into the tiny bar of Trimdon Labour Club to see him off.
Waving hand-written placards reading "Sedgefield Loves Tony", "10 Great Years", "Thank You" and "Britain is Better", the crowd cheered as Mr Blair embraced his agent John Burton and wife Cherie.
Earlier, Gordon Brown paid tribute to Mr Blair's leadership, praising "his unique achievement over 10 years and the unique leadership he had given to the party, Britain and the world".
His comments were greeted by "much thumping of tables" by Cabinet colleagues, the prime minister's official spokesman told reporters.
Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said it had been a "cordial, comradely" meeting with "quite a lot of laughter" and "leg-pulling".
Mr Hain, who is a candidate for Labour's deputy leadership, said Mr Brown would now "take up Tony Blair's mantle in the next period of our government".
'Good years'
Mr Blair's election agent and close friend John Burton said he expected Mr Blair to continue as Sedgefield's MP until the next general election, unless he was offered a major international job.
Former Cabinet minister and Blair ally Alan Milburn said thought the prime minister "slightly regretted pre-announcing his retirement" by saying he would not seek a fourth term.
He's going of his own choice - he's doing it at a time which he thinks is good for the country
Peter Mandelson
Blair quits: Reaction
In Pics: Blair announcement
Blair quits: your comments
"I think he would have preferred to stay longer," added Mr Milburn but he said the prime minister had had "a good 10 years" and had "fundamentally changed the country for the better".
Mr Blair's official spokesman insists he will remain "focused" on being prime minister until Labour has chosen his successor - a process expected to last seven weeks.
He said Mr Blair still has lots of work to do on domestic issues and had a number of international commitments in the run-up to this summer's G8 and EU summits.
But with a new prime minister expected to be in place by the beginning of July, attention at Westminster has already shifted to his succession.
Mr Brown is unlikely to face a Cabinet-level challenge for the leadership as all of the likely contenders have ruled themselves out.
'Paralysis'
But he could still face a challenge from one of two left wing backbenchers - John McDonnell and Michael Meacher. The pair are meeting later to see if one of them can muster enough support to get on to the ballot paper.
Candidates need the signatures of 45 Labour MPs to enter a contest.
Shortly after Mr Blair's announcement, the deputy prime minister and deputy Labour leader John Prescott also announced his intention to stand down.
Nick Robinson
We have grown used to having a leader who is always centre stage
BBC political editor Nick Robinson
Read Nick's thoughts in full
Six deputy leadership hopefuls are already battling for nominations to enter the race to replace Mr Prescott.
Conservative leader David Cameron has said the country faces seven weeks of "paralysis" until Labour chooses a new leader, accusing Mr Blair of running a government of the "living dead".
The Liberal Democrats have, meanwhile, tabled a Parliamentary motion urging the Queen to dissolve parliament and call a general election.
But European Union Trade Commissioner and close Blair ally, Peter Mandelson, denied that Mr Blair's last weeks in office would be as a lame duck leader.
"He's going of his own choice. He's doing it at a time which he thinks is good for the country, is good for the government."
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments
hookers and pizza time!
and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
over specific principles, goals, and policies.
http://i36.tinypic.com/66j31x.jpg
(\__/)
( o.O)
(")_(")
The economy has polarized to the point where the wealthiest 10% now own 85% of the nation’s wealth. Never before have the bottom 90% been so highly indebted, so dependent on the wealthy.
Lets get the facts straight. We are just another pathetic industrialised nation who followed America into a phoney war.
Good to have Blair out of the picture
(sorry ... Just felt like this thread needed an audacious comment to balance out the others)
"Pathetic industrialized nation"?
Let me guess ... You didn't type that comment using a computer, powered by *industry*? You invented some kind of 100% green abacus-type contraption that runs on vegetable oil and has a nifty "I hate the man" screensaver?
As much as i appreciate the crafty poetry, it was really a comment on middle Britains supremacy over other parts of the country (and the world). That's why i don't i agree with Mr Blair when he praises our diligent nation which in fact has become divided since 1997 under his policies.
Would you like another slice of terrorist propaganda to go with your shit sandwich?
and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
over specific principles, goals, and policies.
http://i36.tinypic.com/66j31x.jpg
(\__/)
( o.O)
(")_(")
Nope, I'm good ... Your two cents makes a fine substitute.
That was pretty easy...kinda like wind whistling through the trees if they were ears...
cause and effect....as in cause leads to effect...
were you thinking effect leads to cause perhaps?
and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
over specific principles, goals, and policies.
http://i36.tinypic.com/66j31x.jpg
(\__/)
( o.O)
(")_(")
Yeah, I know. I even agree with your view on Iraq. My personal view is that Blair does get more flack than he deserves, though. He had a fine line to tow.
Yep. Terrorism doesn't really exist, its just another cryptofascist conspiracy ...
is this an admittance of being wrong? ... i mean seeing as most people oppose this war now ... he's basically admitting he made a mistake ...
Yeah I remember the terror alerts way back when since the dawn of time...they used to carve them in trees and rocks...before the last 30 years of ongoing U.S Gov't cluster fucks...
Good thing camels can't swim across the Atlantic...we'd be fucked eh?
we should put out more fires with gasoline....I hear it really does work if you pour enough.
and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
over specific principles, goals, and policies.
http://i36.tinypic.com/66j31x.jpg
(\__/)
( o.O)
(")_(")
It does dammit! Don't you see all the results of this method!? In fact, let's spend billions more on this gasoline because it's doing such a fabulous job. Goodbye fucking fires!
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
-Oscar Wilde
More flack than he deserves? He should have been kicked out office 4 years ago and imprisoned for crimes against humanity and for lying to the population in order to drag us into a bullshit war.
Blair is a fucking disgrace of a human being.
Terrorism does exist, and Britain and America are at the top of the list of countries who practice it.
Quit holding back, Byrnzie.
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
-Oscar Wilde
Let's hope the next guy is less willing to suckle at the teat of Christian fundamentalism, and neo-conservatism.