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Tony Blair - Coggle Diagram
Tony Blair
Policy
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Neo-liberal economic beliefs, which could border on Thatcheresque. E.g. privatisation, low corporate tax.
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Liked the so-called 'special relationship' that the UK and the USA had. This was criticised as Blair was seen as being too deferential towards George W Bush.
Affected the balance of the House of Lords but many saw that he was employing Cronyism to do it. "Cash for access" culture.
Social justice policies and legislation, such as the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000, increasing welfare spending, and creating a national minimum wage.
Constitutional reform =Abolished the right to sit and vote in the Lords of all but 92 hereditary peers, introduced the Human Rights Act, began the process of setting up the Supreme Court and bringing in new electoral systems.
Brought in academies, Private Finance Initiatives (PFIs). Private businesses and interests brought into institutions such as schools and hospitals.
Cabinet
Did not utilise Cabinet, especially in the build-up to and the event of the Iraq War. Seen as taking a presidential approach to governance.
Short cabinet meetings (around 45 mins) that were not thorough, as former cabinet member Clare Short suggests. "Rubber-stamping" decisions.
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Some strong individuals such as Gordon Brown, Jack Straw and Alistair Campbell.
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Party
Seen as revolutionising Labour's reputation in the media and public. Shattered the staid image of socialism and trade unionism in the Labour Party.
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Party began to get a reputation for being "toxic" with the Iraq War, cash-for-access scandal, scandal around Peter Mandelson, tensions between Blair and Brown etc.
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Personality
Played into the media - he was popular with news outlets at the time. He and his government know for his 'spin'.
Could be seen as charismatic by some, but others believed this was manipulative and deceptive. Got the name 'Bliar' in the media post-Iraq.
Had a kind of cult of personality at the beginning of his leadership, displayed in the size of the crowds that welcomed him into Downing Street.
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Leadership
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It is arguable how great Blair's role in crafting policy actually was as many of the defining policies in his manifesto had been directly influenced by the late John Smith's vision.
Elections
Very electable, at least at the beginning. Landslide 1997 victory of 328 out of 529 seats and won the popular vote by 2.5 million+.
Blair won a third election in 2005 but his majority fell to 66 seats compared to the 167-seat majority he had won in 2001.
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