What are the chances of Blair returning as PM?

Indizine · #1 (**permalink**) 07-09-2008, 10:16

Is this likely to happen do you think? I've never heard of it happening before since I've been alive but there's a first time for everything.

There doesn't seem much light at the end of the tunnel for Labour since E-ON turned it off for not paying the bill

(mind you with the distinct lack of lightbulbs coming on at No.10 you would think their leccy bill would be low anyway

)

Inzvestor · #2 (**permalink**) 07-09-2008, 11:32

I don't think this is likely to happen

I can see Labour being the opposition for the next term (possibly 2)

This trend is happening globally (NZ elections are coming up they are bound to lose to National (Conservative))
In Australia I think Labour will also lose next election.

Indizine · #3 (**permalink**) 07-09-2008, 12:53

yes maybe a change is what we need. I personally have no preference either way. However it was wrong to promote GB to PM. Just because he was a good chancellor did not mean he would make a good PM. Very short-sighted to look at promotion in that way. The 2 job roles are very different.

Kent Tiger · #4 (**permalink**) 07-09-2008, 15:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indizine

Just because he was a good chancellor......

Really? I must have missed something.

Huge increases in taxation spent to no effect, culminating in taxing the poor just to get a good soundbite.

Future generations mortgaged to PFI.

A growth bubble based on unsustainable personal debt and rampant house price inflation.

Gold reserves sold at the bottom of the market.

I could go on. If this was good I'd rather have a bad chancellor. Fact is the cupboard is bare, both of money and ideas.

Now if he came forward with some socialist ideas like re-nationalise energy, I think even tory voters would go for that right now.

Indizine · #5 (**permalink**) 07-09-2008, 16:26

well everyone raved about him being the best chancellor, its not my personal observation (sorry i should have added a dsiclaimer to that effect!)

oh well if he was crap at that job as well how on Earth did he make PM?

An Oasis · #6 (**permalink**) 07-09-2008, 17:39

"What are the chances of Blair returning as PM?"

Zero! He has his sites set on far grander positions, teflon Tony wants to be king of Europe.

Lasting Designs · #7 (**permalink**) 07-09-2008, 19:13

His missus wouldn't allow him to take a pay cut.

Seriously though, I can't see a change in leader, other than by death, taking place without a general election being called. One change of leader during a term is bad, but been done before but a second change would IMO see rioting across the country...

Paul Norman · #8 (**permalink**) 08-09-2008, 08:08

Although Brown was represented as a good chancellor, the present situation did not happen over night. It is the result of poor economic management over many years.

True, the spark for the current downturn is a serious hiccup globally, not just here in the UK.

But our economy is built on an illusion. People can spend a lot, because they borrow a lot. And the same happens at a national scale. So a relatively minor increase in interest rates causes a serious problem both for individuals and the country. Underpinning demand must be genuine, not perceived, wealth.

Government spending is only a sustainable thing when its based on high tax yield generated not from high marginal taxation, but from high output. Brown shot the golden goose, and we let him, and fueled the flames by borrowing personally way beyond wisdom.

Blair/Brown/Cameron/Whoever all have the same tough challenge - to bring back sound economic managment.