Tony Blair is to take his most active part in the Labour party since retiring from frontline politics, contributing ideas and experience to Ed Miliband's policy review.
Blair, who stepped down as prime minister five years ago, will be giving advice on the Olympic legacy and in particular how to "maximise both its economic and its sporting legacies", Miliband said last night.
The role reflects Blair's part in the successful 2005 bid to host the Games and his sporting foundation, one of the key charitable causes in his retirement.
Blair will be reunited with leftwinger Jon Cruddas, a former aide, who was brought in by Miliband to head the policy review. Cruddas spoke recently of "reforming the band" – bringing together leading lights of New Labour – in support of Miliband.
The controversial move – perhaps especially within the Labour party – was announced at a fundraising event when Miliband and Blair symbolically shared a platform to make speeches.
Miliband, who was more closely allied to Gordon Brown during the 13 years of Labour government, declared that Blair's help for the party marked a "coming together of the Labour tribe".
Return of the poodle
Return of the poodle
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
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Sue U
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Re: Return of the poodle
Well, they need all the help they can get.Miliband, who was more closely allied to Gordon Brown during the 13 years of Labour government, declared that Blair's help for the party marked a "coming together of the Labour tribe".
GAH!
Re: Return of the poodle
I wouldn't call having Bliar back in the fold a "help", he was seen through as a Machiavellian, self interested, traitor to the Labour party years ago.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
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Sue U
- Posts: 9101
- Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2010 4:59 pm
- Location: Eastern Megalopolis, North America (Midtown)
Re: Return of the poodle
He is, as you note, a skilled politician. He is a "traitor to the Labour party" in the same way Bill Clinton and the DLC were traitors to the Democratic party; but I'm not sure that ideological purity is the key to either electoral or public policy success.
GAH!
Re: Return of the poodle
I agree Sue, he's a devious, moral free, self interested, whore of a man, or a "skilled politician", as you put it.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Return of the poodle
Courageous, brilliant, determined, and a great friend of the United States....
In fact, the third greatest British PM of the past 100 years (after Winston Churchill and Lady Thacher)
The man would make an outstanding UN General Secretary....
The current crop of Labour politicos are Lilliputians by comparison; they should be thanking their lucky stars that he's willing to waste his time on them....
In fact, the third greatest British PM of the past 100 years (after Winston Churchill and Lady Thacher)
The man would make an outstanding UN General Secretary....
The current crop of Labour politicos are Lilliputians by comparison; they should be thanking their lucky stars that he's willing to waste his time on them....
Re: Return of the poodle
Technically he was "Bush's Bitch er Poodle".
And we're really sorry about Bush. Really
yrs,
rubato
And we're really sorry about Bush. Really
yrs,
rubato