How much longer can Blair survive?

singingstranger

A public survey today reckons that about 70% of the UK populace think his time is up. tbh it's becoming more glaringly obviously with every passing day that the mandate he was given just last year is waning away every day.

Interestingly enough, 62% of the population think Brown is as much to blame for the state of the LP as Blair is.

Thoughts, anyone?

AngelofFire

Interestingly enough, 62% of the population think Brown is as much to blame for the state of the LP as Blair is.

You`re right Brown is as much to be blame, along with blair he was one of the prime advocates of the new labour project which embraced ''the third way''-a right wing shift in socialist/Labour/Social Democratic parties accross Europe. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Way. Brown as chancellor of the excequer also presided over many neo liberal measures such as giving the bank of England independence in setting interest rates and refused to roll back the use of the Private Finance initiative introduced by their tory predessessors.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labour_Party_%28UK%29 This move was criticised Labours socialist and Social Democratic Support base. Not to mention that Britain has the lowest Level of Corporation tax in its history and his constant pandering to the business employers http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?itemid=9373

Theres been a lot of Spin in recent months in the british tabloids that brown is somehow to the left or more socially conscious than blair. Its all lies This is just a bid by the establishment media to build up support for brown, the object of the speculation is not to create a more left wing labour party but to maintain the integrety of the ''New Labour'' Project, thank goodness the voters dont seem to be going for it.

growler

I think most of the public have become fairly apathetic towards both Blair / Brown and to the Labour / Tory distinction.

I think Labour supporters would be relatively happy to see Blair off simply for a change of face and the impetus that may give to those so unhappy with Iraq, I don't think Brown will be all that different in his application of Labour policy or remotely more socialist in his policy making. Political debate has been reduced to a largely infantile level in the UK press of late, Prescott's affairs dominating headlines, Jowell's timely separation etc. , which at least distract attention from the Iraq story. Sinc new labour became virtually indistinguishable from new conservatives the only parties that might make inroads on the traditional voters are the more extreme right and greens, with Lib Dems treading water or reversing gains under their new and aging leader.

Victor

Maybe its me, but Brown seems to have a very low profile, compared to say Prescott or Straw.

A huge part of Blairs problem is the complacency that comes with winning three elections in a row.

/m e looks closer to home.

meldrew

If Blair does step down will the party automatically elect Brown ? Or is there any other high profile candidates waitng in the wings , the problem seems to be Blair staying on too long might actually damage Browns chances in the long run but yet there does'nt seem to be any other credible candidates