7th may 2015
A date to be enshrined in the minds of the leaders of the main political parties. Yes the nation will decide who will govern them for the next five years. That will take our country towards the 2020 era.
When you reach the age that I am in (58) every year is a leap into the unknown let alone the next 5 years.
My expectations of the last 10 years will totally differ from my expectations of the next 10 years as my needs have changed accordingly and my social status has changed along with time.
I came into this country 40 years ago As a 18 year old student . At that time my firm belief was that the Labour party is the party for me and they would be the people who could serve my interests best
.
Politics and the peoples view on the policies of the parties centre around themselves which is the fact of life. Some may even call it is selfishness but that is human nature. And this aspect of the human nature is the main aspect that each political party strives to turn towards their policies to their advantage.
Whether we like it or not Tony Blair was a charismatic leader who lead Labour Party to form three consecutive Labour governments,
When Labour party stood firmly on the left clinging onto their socialist policies that were their founding policies they slowly lost the credibility to govern the country.
The changing times which has changed the expectations and the attitude of the public required Labour party to change their cause slightly to the right.
The person who took advantage of this new found strategy was Tony Blair who suitably called his party " New Labour ".
It is true that there were hard line socialists within Labour party who hated this new direction but were silenced by Tony Blair citing that that was the only way that Labour would be trusted by the public.
The plus point that tony Blair had was that he was seen as a first line of genuine politicians and his arguments were so convincing to hear.
The turmoil caused within the Tory party by several leadership battles also helped Tony Blair to succeed in his claim to be the leader of UK.
Whatever trust he built up was all destroyed by his decision to back George Bush in the invasion of Iraq.
The hero of the Labour Party suddenly seem to be the cause of their failure. The question whether he was right in invading Iraq or not is totally a different question but that was the main factor of his downfall is a fact.
Now let us come to the current political climate.
all the opinion polls are suggesting that the results may be too close to call. The situation of the UKIP and the SNP even suggest that there is a very good possibility of a coalition government again in UK.
Now Tony Blair has indicated that he would work for the victory of Labour Party and Ed Milliband. What else would you expect from a former Labour prime minister ?
It is true that Tony Blair has secured some high power post through UN as a Middle East Peace Envoy. Whether that was a post he deserved or not is an individual opinion. But he certainly has the ability to negotiate is beyond doubt.
After all he was Prime Minister of UK for three times.
it is a question for Labour party where do they stand ?
Do they goback to their old Socialist stand with leftist policies and calling themselves as a party of true workers ? or do they accept the fact that the times have changed and people like me who once upon supported labour unconditionally but in the current climate looking for acceptable policies from any party that seems reasonable and adapt themselves in which case would require sound advice from Tony Blair.
There is an old saying in my Tamil language from the the great distiguised poet "Thiruvalluvar" that : It does not matter who says, if it is a valid point we should consider it "
Hence it is also equally dangerous to ignore advice from experienced politicians such as Tony Blair. Yes it is a difficult juncture for Ed Milliband.
IF I was in Ed Millibands position I would be in a pickle ! What would he do will he be prepared to use Tony Blair's good offices to his advantage or would he be concerned that Tony Blair's involvement will give a negative impact ?
Yes it is a serious question Is Tony Blair an asset or Liability ?
Sakthi Sakthithasan
A date to be enshrined in the minds of the leaders of the main political parties. Yes the nation will decide who will govern them for the next five years. That will take our country towards the 2020 era.
When you reach the age that I am in (58) every year is a leap into the unknown let alone the next 5 years.
My expectations of the last 10 years will totally differ from my expectations of the next 10 years as my needs have changed accordingly and my social status has changed along with time.
I came into this country 40 years ago As a 18 year old student . At that time my firm belief was that the Labour party is the party for me and they would be the people who could serve my interests best
Politics and the peoples view on the policies of the parties centre around themselves which is the fact of life. Some may even call it is selfishness but that is human nature. And this aspect of the human nature is the main aspect that each political party strives to turn towards their policies to their advantage.
Whether we like it or not Tony Blair was a charismatic leader who lead Labour Party to form three consecutive Labour governments,
When Labour party stood firmly on the left clinging onto their socialist policies that were their founding policies they slowly lost the credibility to govern the country.
The changing times which has changed the expectations and the attitude of the public required Labour party to change their cause slightly to the right.
The person who took advantage of this new found strategy was Tony Blair who suitably called his party " New Labour ".
It is true that there were hard line socialists within Labour party who hated this new direction but were silenced by Tony Blair citing that that was the only way that Labour would be trusted by the public.
The plus point that tony Blair had was that he was seen as a first line of genuine politicians and his arguments were so convincing to hear.
The turmoil caused within the Tory party by several leadership battles also helped Tony Blair to succeed in his claim to be the leader of UK.
Whatever trust he built up was all destroyed by his decision to back George Bush in the invasion of Iraq.
The hero of the Labour Party suddenly seem to be the cause of their failure. The question whether he was right in invading Iraq or not is totally a different question but that was the main factor of his downfall is a fact.
Now let us come to the current political climate.
all the opinion polls are suggesting that the results may be too close to call. The situation of the UKIP and the SNP even suggest that there is a very good possibility of a coalition government again in UK.
Now Tony Blair has indicated that he would work for the victory of Labour Party and Ed Milliband. What else would you expect from a former Labour prime minister ?
It is true that Tony Blair has secured some high power post through UN as a Middle East Peace Envoy. Whether that was a post he deserved or not is an individual opinion. But he certainly has the ability to negotiate is beyond doubt.
After all he was Prime Minister of UK for three times.
it is a question for Labour party where do they stand ?
Do they goback to their old Socialist stand with leftist policies and calling themselves as a party of true workers ? or do they accept the fact that the times have changed and people like me who once upon supported labour unconditionally but in the current climate looking for acceptable policies from any party that seems reasonable and adapt themselves in which case would require sound advice from Tony Blair.
There is an old saying in my Tamil language from the the great distiguised poet "Thiruvalluvar" that : It does not matter who says, if it is a valid point we should consider it "
Hence it is also equally dangerous to ignore advice from experienced politicians such as Tony Blair. Yes it is a difficult juncture for Ed Milliband.
IF I was in Ed Millibands position I would be in a pickle ! What would he do will he be prepared to use Tony Blair's good offices to his advantage or would he be concerned that Tony Blair's involvement will give a negative impact ?
Yes it is a serious question Is Tony Blair an asset or Liability ?
Sakthi Sakthithasan
