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I think thats slightly unfair to say Labour was brought down as well TheCrownless Send a noteboard - 23/10/2012 02:09:43 AM
My guess is US policy, specifically the Iraq war, hurt our British standing. Using 911 as a pretext to invade a country that had nothing to do with 911 hurt our standing everywhere, but we had more ground to lose in the UK. Romney did not help when he showed up for the Olympics telling them they were running it all wrong and Al Qaeda would murder them all. Yet the Iraq war singlehandedly brought down the previously very popular Blair government, and that is very revealing.

It's not as if Blair was doing everything else right.


Blair, yes I'd say Iraq did bring him down.

Certainly until Iraq he had an almost spotless (or as close to you get after half a decade as the most prominent face in UK politics) record especially with the economy, for Labour to only lose 5 seats in 2001 was nothing short of stunning and was representative of Labours success as much as the Conservatives weakness. I think this determination to act like a head of state rather than a prime minister grated inside Westminister much more than it did outside. By the end of course there was a turning of the tide against him publicaly (although not enough to lose him the election) but that was largely down to the view that he lied to the public to get rid of Sadam, without that the 2005 election would have been far more convincing.

I don't think Iraq brought down Labour (it was general fatigue, Browns strength the economy becoming a stunning weakness and his poor public relations long after Blair left), Blairs downfall came towards the very end of tenure and largely after (Fern Britton for example).
Come to the dark side, We have candy!

I'm Israel, he's Palestine, its more fun when you pick sides.
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