Has it just been a case of Tony Blair being lucky, and Gordon Brown Unlucky?

Question

was TB lucky that he jumped ship at the right time, and GB unlucky, that the economic world was in meltdown when he became Prime minister. Or do you believe that the Uk would be in a different situation under the leadership of Tony Blair?. or is the tories under Cameron what the UK really need?

Answer 1

Blair seemed to get the political breaks and escaped proper retribution despite the serious gaffes . Brown is no mug but seems to lack the necessary charisma or political nuance to be effective . Doubt if Cameron and the Tories are the answer whilst the Lib Dems seem like headless chickens .

Answer 2

It's the rest of us, as always, who pay the bill.

After 10 years of a mishandled economy (don't forget who was running it), a corrupt government (the vote-rigging scandals) and stolen pensions, both Brown and Blair are set up for life with high pay and gold-plated pensions - and the police aren't even after them for any of this!

If GB were a plc, by now they'd be in prison for false prospectuses - and probably more.

Don't blame me: I voted Tory.

Answer 3

TB jumped ship when it was sinking and left GB to take the blame - but we really need new leadership  

Answer 4

Good  question.

The last Tory government left the country's economy in the best shape it has ever been and the treasury coffers the fullest since the industrial revolution.

Tony Blair had 10 years of buying votes with this funds.When the money ran out he embarked on a series of private partnership deals that dont show up as debt,yet the governments of all parties will be paying back for the next 50 years...or at least our children will.

Blair not only bankrupt us but has made future recovery virtually impossible.

In short,he sold off every last national asset to maintain his vote buying excesses.

In answer to your question,yes,he did hand Brown a ticking time bomb.There is nothing left and nothing to mortgage,its over for us all,not just Brown.

In truth,much of the problem was created by Brown as a disastrous Chancellor.Selling off Britains gold at an all time low and selling our fishing rights to foreign investors are just 2 examples of why he needed to hide the black hole in the economy with smoke and mirrors.

Probably the next Tory government are going to have the most difficult task of all.They have nothing to work with.They wont be in a position to promise lower taxes because labour have already mortgaged our futures.

Traditionally,the Tories step in to thanklessly reapir the damage caused by Labours short term thinking and excessive spending.Its a painful task rarely appreciated by the population.Unfortunately,this time,the excessive population levels caused by immigration of unskilled masses is beyond the skills and willing of any centre line government.

Camerons a good guy with his head screwed on but doesnt have radical plans in place that Mrs Thatcher did.

I will be voting for a party farther to the right,otherwise Cameron will merely slow our descent into oblivion.

Answer 5

No tories please, remember what happened last time!

The UK would be in this situation regardless, the world economy and oil he can't control. Altho I do believe that GB is a goof and TB was a brown nose!

Answer 6

Teflon Tony slid out just in time.  Did he see what was coming?  He had a certain charm (!) to carry stuff off, G Brown has little, if any.Brown's fiscal policies were not exactly so prudent, robbed pension funds, raised taxes, many of the latter sneaked in as indirect taxation hoping we wouldn't notice.  No money put by for bad times.

TB might spin the situation better, but he took us into illegal wars, ignored the feelings of the electorate and grabbed money for his personal gain (property, expenses) etc.

Brown is reaping what TB and he sowed.  Unfair on Brown, Teflon slides on.

Cameron,  I don't know, New Labour is just handing it to him on a plate, yet he has not yet told us exactly what he stands for.

Answer 7

I am not a fan of GB but he is coping with the TB fallout - that is the problem!

We need a Prime Minister is serious balls to make big changes - whether upsetting people or not!

Answer 8

Britain has been unlucky with both TB and GB the labour governments are totally useless............ DC will make a far superior PM. The labour government has closed soooooo many special schools. Im hoping DC will do something about this when he gets into power!!

Nutster, Brown is holidaying in SUFFOLK NOT NORFOLK

Answer 9

Blair was fully aware of what was coming - the warning signs were being read by economists and others a long time ago.  Every indication is that he was quite glad to take up his lucrative retirement job and leave the poisoned chalice to a hated rival.

As to the question of whether any other politician would be more able to lead the country out of the present situation, I suggest that there are none of the present or upcoming generation in Parliament today, irrespective of party,  who would do a better job.  The reason is that they are all following the discredited ideology of neoliberalism.  To lead us out of this will call for radical thinking, a government ready to actually take command, and, above all, real socialism, not a corrupt attempt to make capitalism work better while still s******g the vast majority of the people.

That's why we need real Old Labour, not these crooks.

Answer 10

Tony Blair being lucky, and Gordon Brown Unlucky? A question not of mentioning without knowing the inside politics?.  Each one of them have few points of Evilness?,   TONY came to power  during the  Conservative-Torrys problems?, but he was answerable to IRAQ /Afghanistan-WAR,  thus the UK Solders & his collegue in the Ministry, death answerable?, besides  his policy was to join the hands with supper Dictator GEORGE W: BUSH (Supported from his father the CIA Ex-boss?of US)  and number of Lies in the public on war?, that was his  downfall?.  The Brown was oppertunist of this insider war of party power of Labours,  added fire to oil, as such his sucess was a temporary nature and could not hold for long time?  As such always oppertunists live for a short period.  But the future of UK is now at stakes?  If Conservative take over again, than another shockwaves may be  in the air, at the time of Globalising period.  If Labour (Non-Conservative) came on power without a proper plans of future developments It is not the Queen, but the Almighty alone can help the UK`s citizens?.  

Answer 11

Bliar made plenty of mistakes, then slipped away ( gradually with a will he go, when's he going, will he just flipping well go? ) before Nu-labour thought about stabbing him in the back......

what does b'liar care, he thinks the EU Presidency ( thanks to the signing by GB of the Lisbon Treaty ) is HIS & in the bag.

Brown made mistakes whilst chancellor very expensive errors & continues to bounce from one ineptitude to another.

Now holiday-ing in Norfolk?

.....while DEFRA & the Government decide to surrender parts of the Norfolk coast to the sea!

What a nerve the man has, since most Norfolk folk see it as Thoughtless Spite.

nu-labour/old labour/tories/the reinvented caring conservative party?

SAME SAME.

They are all the same,

IN IT FOR THEMSELVES & the TAXPAYER is left to CARRY the CAN!  

Answer 12

You make your own luck in this world.  Gord is just a wannabee when it comes to ruthless politicans.  Tony was the better politician - totally ruthless and  unscrupulous.  Cameron what the UK Needs? God knows - we are in DEEP do-do.

Answer 13

They're all as bad as each other - the oil price saga has definitely not helped!  However the government could have reacted differently to  massive oil price hikes by reducing the huge amount of tax they get from us at the pumps.  GB is history unless he does something about this and maybe he is waiting to get closer to a general election to pull some kind of 'vote buying stunt' to save his pathetic backside!

Answer 14

Tony saw what was coming and stitched Gordon up good and proper. Good for him.

And don't forget who was in charge of the economy while Tony was running the show. In 1997, Gordon promised an end to boom and bust and that he wouldn't let house prices get out of control, and yet look at what happened. The economy went absolutely silly, house prices tripled in value overnight, giving Daily Mail readers wet dreams and economists heart attacks. There was absolutely no way this fantasy world was sustainable, and Tony saw the writing on the wall and jumped ship just in time.

As for the Tories - I believe a Cameron government would give massive tax bonuses to the rich and would actually make life a lot tougher for poorer people and those on average incomes. That's the exact opposite of what the country needs.

What we really need is more protectionism, a severing of ties with Europe, and the revival of the (old) Labour movement.

Answer 15

Some people believe you make your own luck or otherwise in this world.

We are well rid off Blair who was nothing but a very clever conman. Brown is the type of person from whom you would not buy a second hand car and whilst not responsible for the fuel prices has done nothing about them. Cameron I am not sure about but really after eleven years of this lot a change will be as good as a rest.

Answer 16

Tony got out at the right time & the oil prices have made us believe it's Gordon's fault we are being fleeced at the pumps!!

hmm...David Cameron - a wolf in sheep's clothing...i remember the last Tory rule - nightmare!!

Answer 17

I think this country is in for a decade of useless ineffective 'Tof' led government.  Lets face it, the front benches of the three main parties are full of career politicians who have never really lived in the 'real' world.  They all have their own personal agendas and quite a few just use politics to ensure a profitable future for themselves when they finally get kicked out.  Blair is in the top 100 wealthiest people in the UK.

Answer 18

i find it incredible that no-one in government saw the credit crunch coming.  it's a fact of life that unlimited growth is impossible and the pace of growth in the uk property market must have been ringing alarm bells somewhere.  it certainly was for me, and i'm just a daft futba fan.

so, tony blair lucky?  certainly, he was able to ride the wave of excess consumption and jumped at the last minute before it came crashing.  Good judgement on his part. Brown's ambition to be PM probably blinkered him to the impending economic disaster that he was inheriting.

The thing is a lot of money has been made by someone in this counrty over the last ten years, and I can guarantee it wasn't me.

Answer 19

Yes. Blair knew exactly the right time to hand the reigns over. There is a bit of bad luck for Brown but to be honest he is nowehere near up to the job. Would never vote Tory but Cameron actually comes across as a decent leader

Answer 20

I believe TB made a jump at right time and left a mess to clean by GB. Its GB wish to be a PM but he knew there is mess made by TB. I do not think there is different situation under TB. May be you get more lectures about economy and blaming others.

Answer 21

no the public have been unlucky...<^><...