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[Intensecure]

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David Blunkett said he was "mortified" by the results and blamed the Iraq war for "damaging" the Labour vote.

Well, of course he could be more accurate and say that by going against public opinion about Britains involvement in the Iraq war, the public have reacted in the most positive way (other than by mass demonstrations which the govt completely ignored - a million people massing to demonstrate obviously constitutes a "fringe" element - that they have avaialble to them in a democracy and vote him out!
I am sure this will not convert to a Conservative party win at the next general election, but may send a message to Tony Blair that he cannot do a GWB and impose his Weltanschauung on the population without some "feedback"
Regrettably, I do not have the time to detail all my objections to Tony Blair and his style of govt, suffice it to say he is a neoliberal globalist who follows the American model and is the natural successor to Margaret Thatcher, who was Hitler sans moustache  
Ok, Ok, yes I am slightly radical (but,hey, you have read "Hegemony or Survival" as well, right?!
The Uk does not have a credible alternative in a "two party" system in the same way that the US doesn't.
Sorry, got to run - so much more I want to say...but let's not feel sorry for Tony.   Let's hope (in vain) that he has the ability to learn lessons....

[nemt]

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..but a good day for anyone who isn't a socialist

The Labour party is the new conservative right in the UK. You show your lack of understanding of UK politics is similiar to your lack of understanding of US politics and world affairs - again

[nemt]

That's certainly interesting, I was under the impression the conservative party represented the conservative right.

Here's a political secret: any political party with a word like "labor" or "worker" means socialism.

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That's certainly interesting, I was under the impression the conservative party represented the conservative right.    Here's a political secret: any political party with a word like "labor" or "worker" means socialism.

But serious point deserves serious answer:
The Labour party in the UK ceased to represent the "working class" or "socialist ideals" in the early 1990s, which is one of the main reasons that they stole votes from the traditional Conservative party homelands to gain power. The "New Labour" movt as they called themselves, deliberately to distinguish themselves from "The Old Guard" of traditional socialist labour, adopted the same monetarist policies previously used under the Thatcher govt. Indeed, Margaret Thatcher later confessed that Tony Blair seemed to be the natural successor to continue her ideals.
The Conservative party is in disarray and represents an aging upper middle class population, and even then struggles to find a way to coherently develop guiding principles after it's massive defeat in successive elections.
I tell you this not in a lecturing way (although I do know a few political secrets - it was my area of study at an American University 20 yrs ago...) but since you are perhaps unaware of the change of emphasis that has taken place in UK politics.
The term "Liberal" is often misunderstood in American politics in the same way
And the third largest party (and gaining ground) in the UK is the Liberal Democratic Party - I mean, whatever next!

[nemt]

True, but whether one party has a clear majority or not, it's still more or less a two party system - and even if the Labour party no longer represents Socialism outwardly, they still aren't the right leaning party given the choice between the two.

[melon]

Nemt you are wrong. You are looking at this from a black and white point of view.
You are going to have parties who fundemetaly, through policies and ideoligies are either right wing biased, or left wing biased.
Just like to us in the UK, your Democrats and Republicans are both considered to be right wing. The labour party has moved itself towards the right, nearer to the tories.
Here is how our parties lie at the moment.

In the UK on the left side you have Liberal Democrats who are considered to be the 3rd main party but unelectable. Further left you have the newly formed Respect party that is using an anti-war stance as its major policy, although they did do a brilliant political party broadcast.
(if anyone thinks about mentioning socialist worker/party then just dont)

Labour is now somewhere in the middle.

On the right you have the conservatives who have lost there way and are completely out of touch with anybody. Then further right you have the UK Independence Party (UKIP), who as a spokesperson have a disgraced, racist politicion, cum tv chatshow host, cum politicion again. (he got sacked from his chatshow for writing a racist newspaper column). UKIP want to leave the EU and have worriengly gained a lot of support.
Further right you have the BNP who are basically our equivelent to the KKK or nazis, except they have never been as popular and are considered thugs by everyone.


Back on topic Tony Blair is dispised by the majority of the country and hopefully these two bad election results can force him out of power. This is a real possability. Unfortunelty the fact the European Championships are on at the moment means the nations attention is elsewhere and unless a big noise is made Labour will yet again be able to sweep a major incident under the carpet.
I only hope the fact Gordan Brown is Scottish doesnt count against him when it comes to electing a new leader.

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I only hope the fact Gordan Brown is Scottish doesnt count against him when it comes to electing a new leader.

You mean a REAL Scot with a Scots accent - unlike Blair who is also Scottish but has been very well anglicised.
As you will be aware, Neil Kinnocks Welshness definitely went against him.

[melon]

Tony has got the act off great. Gordan is a true Scot and he is proud of it. I thought the fact Kinnock was butt ugly didnt help either. I feel that the same problem aflicts the brilliant Robin Cook who I feel would make an excellent primeminister.

edit: it sounded stupid (not sober when i wrote it).

[Colonel32]