TONY BLAIR

1
TONY BLAIR

• "I am a socialist not through reading a textbook
  that has caught my
• intellectual fancy, nor through unthinking
  tradition, but because I
• believe that, at its best, socialism corresponds
  most closely to an
• existence that is both rational and moral. It
  stands for cooperation,
• not confrontation for fellowship, not fear. It
  stands for equality".

2
Overview

• Political Framework
• Background
• Early Career and Rise to Power
• Blair as PM
• Accomplishments and Strengths
• Criticisms and Weaknesses
• Future Implications

3
United Kingdom

• Constitutional Monarchy (figurehead)
• Parliamentary
• Bicameral Legislature
• House of Lords
• House of Commons
• Shadow Cabinet

4
Background

• Education
• Worst subject at school was Science
• Excelled in singing
• 
  
• 1975 - graduated from Oxford
• University with a law degree.
• March 29th, 1980
• married Cherie Booth

5
Early Political Career

• In the early 1980s He was involved in Labour
  politics in Hackney South and Shoreditch
• Unsuccessfully attempted to secure selection as a
  candidate for Hackney Borough Council
• Lost his deposit at the Beaconsfield by-election
• Drew the attention of the Labor Party leader
  Michael Foot and acquired a profile within the
  party.

6
Blairs Rise to Power

• June 1983 - Elected MP (member of parliament) for
  Sedgefield
• Declared the Labour Party to be a socialist party
• 1984 Appointed as the assistant Treasury
  spokesman
• 1987 Served as the deputy spokesman on the
  shadow Trade and Industry Team

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Blairs Rise to Power

• 1988 Elected the Shadow Secretary of State for
  Energy
• 1989 Became the Shadow Employment Secretary
• 1992 Became the Shadow Home Secretary under
  John Smith
• 1994 Elected to the leadership of the Labour
  Party

8
Blairs Rise to Power

• May 2nd, 1997 Won the general election and
  became the youngest Prime Mister since 1812
• Open-minded, forward looking, energetic and
  influential
• Some significant achievement in
• domestic policies
• Strongly supported United States
• in foreign policy

9
Blairs rise to power

• 2001 Re-elected in general elections
• 2005 Won a third term in general elections
• Sept. 7th, 2006 - Announced to step down
• as the Prime Minister within a year

10
Leader of the Labour Party

• Modernization
• Provided framework and vision for centrist New
  Labour Party
• Abolished parts of the Labour platform that
  called for nationalization of all public services
• Accommodation
• Willing to build coalitions with Conservatives.
• Maintained many of Thatcher/Majors
• economic policies

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Accomplishments

• Strong domestic policies
• Increased public spending on health and education
  
• Reformed minimum wage
• Devolution of Scotland (1998) and Wales (1997)
• Made progress in Northern Ireland peace process
• Promoted Civil Partnerships Act

12
Criticisms and Weaknesses

• Presidentialism Acted as a president and the
  head of state instead of a prime minister
• Relationship with the United States
• Formed a strong political alliance with G. W Bush
  which is not welcomed by public in UK as well as
  in many countries around the world
• the U.S. foreign minister
• "Bush's poodle."

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Criticism and Weakness

• Middle East policy
• Had No effective plan for the
• aftermath of the invasion of Iraq
• Supported the road map
• including the retention of
• settlements on the West Bank
• Failed to call for a cease fire
• Israel-Lebanon Conflict in the 2006

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Criticism and Weakness

• Relationship with Labour party
• Refuses to leave power and transfer leadership to
  other candidate (Gordon Brown)
• Mixed image in terms of political stand Left or
  Right, Labour or Conservative
• Dipped from the highest public
• approval rating to the lowest

15
Toxic Legacy?

• Toxic Behaviors
• Misleading followers through deliberate untruths
  and misdiagnoses of issues and problems.
• Stifling dissent and marginalizing alternative
  approaches.
• Failing to nurture other leaders, including own
  successor.
• Improperly clinging to power.

Lipman-Blumen, The Allure of Toxic Leaders
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Leadership Application

• Trait Approach
• Intelligence Well educated, displayed
  outstanding talent in solving issues and rose to
  power rapidly in early age.
• Self-Confidence Led Labour Party to adopt a new
  constitution using his own vision and courage.
• Determination Did not give up political ambition
  after setbacks and finally became the youngest
  prime minister
• Sociability Created a strong political network
  among various stakeholders.

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Exit Strategy?

• War in Iraq
• Downing Street Memo
• - Intelligence was sexed up.
• - Approval rating drops to 26 in May 2006.
• Response to Public Opinion
• - Feb 21, 2007- Blair reduces British force by
  1,500 and announces complete withdrawal from Iraq
  in 2008.

Iraq has been a divisive issue in this country
but I hope now that we can unite again and look
to the future there and here. (2005, upon
winning a third term)
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Exit Strategy?

• Succession Planning
• Blair announces that he will resign before the
  Trade Union Congress meeting in September 2007.
• Reluctant to publicly endorse former rival Gordon
  Brown (Treasury Chief).

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Summary

• Youngest Prime Minister in modern history.
• Only Labour Party PM to achieve 3 terms.
• Exhibits strong leadership traits, and a
  willingness to reach across party lines.
• Very successful domestic policies may be
  overshadowed by War in Iraq.
• Expected to resign, but date is unknown.

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Did You Know?

• Scottish-born
• Avid tennis player
• Lead singer and guitarist for a band called Ugly
  Rumoursin college.