The End of the Blair Era

Throughout the 1990s, Tony Blair was frequently compared to Bill Clinton--a distinct mistake for those whose shallow ideological comparisons defined the administrations of each of these men. The end of the Blair government more closely resembles the fall from power of Lady Thatcher than it does any other modern political figure. In fact, the parallels between the Thatcher government and the Blair government, (in all but ideology), are rather numerous.

* Both were elected subsequent to a major economic crisis or under very poor economic conditions.

* Both were responsible for reviving their respective parties out of the doldrums after years of political defeat.

* Both were involved in major military operations (though in Lady Thatcher's case, the Falklands War was quite popular, and in Mr. Blair's case, the Iraq war has not been)

* Both were wildly popular at the peak of their political power, and won astounding re-elections.

* Both have been among the longest serving British Prime Minister of the last century.

* Both ultimately met their political end because of internal division and strife in their own parties.

* (Forward Looking Prediction) Both had successors who served under them as Chancellor of the Exchequer and who were promptly met with horrendous defeats in subsequent general elections (Though Major won the initial General Election in 1992, it was by a narrow margin. He then went on famously to lead the Tories to a loss in 1997 to Blair). Indeed, it seems that Gordon Brown has his work cut out for him.

Tony Blair also shares something in common with another world leader, George W. Bush, in that both of these men have, through the War in Iraq, decimated their political parties' previously unparalleled strength and dynamic majorities and prepared them both for defeat. The Labour Party at least has the benefit of Blair resigning to allow for a more graceful transition.

If only we had a Parliamentary System....