Tony Blair "Relished" Sending Troops Into Battle

"Coming of age..."

from JoeUser Forums
Tony Blair has always told the British public that sending our troops to their possible deaths is the hardest thing a leader can do. But a new diary from Lance Price, a former Downing Street aide, reveals that Mr Blair was not quite so pensive when actually making such decisions.

When talking about ordering strikes on Iraq in 1998, Mr Price says...

"I couldn't help feeling TB was relishing his first blooding as PM, sending the boys into action. Despite all the necessary stuff about taking action 'with a heavy heart', I think he feels it is part of his coming of age as a leader."

The version originally censored by Number 10 reads....

""I couldn't help feeling TB had mixed emotions about sending the boys into action."

This is typical of how the Downing Street spin machine works, which has not slowed in it's spin doctoring since Alastair Campbell resigned last year. You might say that I should not pass comment unless I have actually been inside Downing Street myself. Well I have, I used to be a Labour party employee and occasionally had to visit Number 10 in my work as an assistant to ministers. The atmosphere can only be described as a 'bubble'. Away from the hectic nature of London life, Downing Street is like an art gallery. Quiet, stuffy and full of Tony's aides hovering around worrying about the Daily Mail and working out how to take pot shots at the BBC. Lance Price is completely right in his comments about the Prime Minister, and is now being labelled a traitor by Cabinet Secretary Gus O' Donnell.

Price goes on to say that Blair would not change his policy on the European single currency without consulting with Rupert Murdoch first.

"Apparently we've promised News International we won't make any changes to our Europe policy without talking to them." This was changed to: "Apparently News International were under the impression we won't make any changes without asking them."

Mr Blair is also quoted as decrying the Welsh when elections to the devolved parliament weren't going Labour's way.

Mr Price wrote: "F***ing Welsh repeated many times by TB."

The doctored version reads: "TB f-ing and blinding about the whole thing."

The diaries also claim that Blair sidelined the Cabinet in decision making and would rather consult with his cronies (nicknamed 'Tony's Cronies') such as Campbell on key policy issues. Mr Blair is also said to have sometimes formulated policy "minutes" before going on television.

This would not surprise me at all. New Labour is about soundbites on the rolling 24 hour news channels rather than tough policy making. An example would be earlier this year, after the election Blair claimed his third term would have a "respect" agenda, and proudly claimed he "fully suported" a shopping centre's policy of banning children wearing hoods because they might or might not cause trouble. A taskforce was set up shortly afterwards with a multi-million pound budget and a mission to end anti-social "yob" behaviour on Britain's streets.

The director of the taskforce made a speech this summer claiming ministers should "lighten up" over binge drinking and that she herself was a regular binge drinker. Such dedication is admirable, and tells us all we need to know about Blair's determination to tackle this problem.

It is my belief that this kind of sofa style, short term headline grabbing government is the barrier to actually reforming our crumbling society. The sooner Mr Blair resigns, the sooner democracy can return to Britain, the mother of all democracies.
politics
3,780 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
Well, I can read in your post where it was someone's opinion that he "relished" sending troops into battle. The opinion of an aide is one thing. An admission by Blair himself would be another. This is nothing but hearsay printed as fact.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
To Rightwinger:

Actually, even living here in America and following the news from Britain at second-hand via the online editions of the Guardian and the Independent, it's more than possible to connect the Price diary with the Iraq debacle, the condescension and deceit that led up to the beginning of that foolish adventure, and New Labour's unending addiction to the focus-group and the short term poll.

But since I doubt you have any understanding of British politics (as most of the British have no understanding of American politics) I can't really take offence at the glib manner with which you brush off Blair's ongoing campaign to be remembered as the first British President.

Nor can I really call you to account for not understanding that 'spin' has been the favorite language of Blair and his advisors (personally appointed by Blair and completely bypassing the proper channels of Cabinet debate and decision-making) since its inception.

On the whole Britman's comments seem a reasonable response to one more example of Blair's increasing disconnection from the grass-roots of his Party and its support in the country.
Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
On the whole Britman's comments seem a reasonable response to one more example of Blair's increasing disconnection from the grass-roots of his Party and its support in the country.


Americans need to look past the view of Blair as 'brave' with the "spirit of Churchill" and appreciate the damage that Blair's presidential style of government is doing to British democracy.
Reply #4 from PolMach Forums Top
Americans need to look past the view of Blair as 'brave' with the "spirit of Churchill" and appreciate the damage that Blair's presidential style of government is doing to British democracy.


I suspect it would be impossible to give a quick lesson on British politics, but what do you mean when calling Blair's style of government "presidential"? Is this to say that you believe he is acting as both head of government and head of state?

Also, can you suggest any good internet reading that will describe the process of government in the UK?

Thanks!
Reply #5 from PolMach Forums Top
But since I doubt you have any understanding of British politics (as most of the British have no understanding of American politics) I can't really take offence at the glib manner with which you brush off Blair's ongoing campaign to be remembered as the first British President.


I think Emporer, that right winger may be coming from the American thinking that really places a whole lot of doubt about how factual someone's writings are when those writings are for the specific purpose of making money. The main source of information for this book is, as the title states, the author's diary. While upon it's release we may find that it contains some facts, so far it seems Mr. Price is merely expressing his opinion of Blair's state of mind rather than offering up any personal conversations he may have had with Blair. It just all seems a bit tabloid-ish, every article I found on the upcoming book read like something from a "Star" magazine or some other celebrity tabloid which, while entertaining, are not necessarily where I would go for serious news. So I don't know if rightwinger is "brushing off Blair's rememberance campaign" so much as doubting the intentions of an author of a book that so far has offered up nothing more than innuendo in an attempt to sell books.

Regardless of one's opinion of Mr. Blair, most people, except of course the rabidly anti-Blair, would probably questions this guys intentions and honesty. If Mr. Price was just an altruist that wanted to let the world know how bad Blair is for the UK and the Labour Party, he could have merely been interviewed on national television for the world to see. However, if you want to hear his story badly enough now that you've had a taste of some of the juicy leaks then you will have to buy his story for £16.99. As an American and knowing very little of Blair besides snippets from US news agencies, I would not propose to have the slightest idea about the workings of British politics, I simply have my doubts about this Mr. Price and his book that has so far offered up nothing more than tabloid rubbish.