May 11: After a decade’s ruling, in the office as Labour Party leader, British Prime Minister Tony Blair announced his retirement as the head of Labour Party, yesterday. Blair made the announcement while addressing his party activists at Sedgefield constituency. Blair said that he will step down as prime minister on June 27, after the election of a new party leader.
In his speech he also apologised for the shortcomings during his tenure and mentioned that his time as prime minister of United Kingdom was blessed and will be marked by many for the Iraq war. On Iraq war Blair added that he did all that he felt right for the country.
Blair talked defensively of his approach towards the solution Iraq and Afghanistan crisis. He said that fighting against global terrorism is the need of the hour and no one can ignore it.
Treasury chief Gordon Brown is the likely candidate to be elected as the next leader. He has a strong position in the party and is better known for his reformist capacities. Blair has further given an indication to support Brown as his successor, following his stepping down as Britain’s Prime Minister.
Blair’s political career underwent a sea change in July 1994, when he was elected as the Labour Party leader ahead of Gordon Brown and after the death of John Smith. Under his leadership the Labour Party won the first major victory in the 1997 general elections, defeating the Conservative Party after 18 years of rule. Labour Party won 419 seats out of the 659 seats in House of Commons. Blair continues to be the youngest British Prime Minister till date. After an early success Blair also emerged as the winner in three consecutive general elections.
However, the most important things for which he would be known are campaigns of allied forces after the September 11 attack, which later on weakened Taliban and Al-Qaida terrorist network and undoubtedly the regime change in Iraq, which brought much criticism at home and abroad.
After Blair’s stepping down, Brown is the strongest candidate and has been already nominated by members of Labour Party. Brown while addressing cabinet members in the weekly meeting after Blair’s announcement cited Blair as an extraordinary leader with unprecedented achievements. Two left wing leaders, McDonell and Meacher, are other possible candidates which may stand against Brown.
Despite being senior to Blair, Brown, but in the 1994 party election Blair got selected as the leader of the party due to his popularity and even today he is more popular among the citizens. It is likely that Brown may bring some changes in reform policy.
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