Blairite
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In United Kingdom politics, the term Blairite refers to a personal and/or political supporter of Tony Blair, Leader of the Labour Party since 1994 and Prime Minister since 1997.
Politically, Blair has been identified with the introduction of quasi-markets into public services, an interventionist and Atlanticist foreign policy, and support for stronger law enforcement powers. In the early years (circa 1994-1997), Blairism was also associated with support for European integration and particularly British participation in the European single currency, though this waned after Labour took office.
The term is used in particular in contrast to Brownite, to identify those within the Labour Party who prefer Blair's leadership to that of Gordon Brown. However, with Blair and Brown typically in agreement on most political issues[1] (from Iraq to public sector reform), commentators have noted that "the difference between Brownites and Blairites … is more tribal than ideological" [2]. This is believed to stem from a personal disagreement between Blair and Brown over who should have run for the leadership following the death of John Smith in 1994: though Brown was originally considered the senior of the two, he waited until after Smith's funeral to begin campaigning by which point Blair had gathered too much momentum to be beaten. [3]
With Blair stating his ambition to retire as party leader and Prime Minister before the next general election (expected to be held in 2009 or 2010), there is much talk in British politics about the Blairite legacy: while centrists such as Gordon Brown and David Cameron claim that Blairism is safe in their hands, critics on the left (e.g. John McDonnell) and right (e.g Norman Tebbit) dispute its value to British society. Others have even speculated that, if the Blairite coalition is to be seen as essentially one of pro-market anti-Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats could even be its ultimate inheritors.[4]
[edit] List of notable Blairites
- Liz Blackman MP
- Stephen Byers MP
- Charles Clarke MP
- Lord Charlie Falconer
- Patricia Hewitt MP
- John Hutton (politician) MP
- Alan Johnson MP
- Tessa Jowell MP
- Peter Mandelson, ex-MP now European Commissioner
- Alan Milburn MP
- David Miliband MP
- Rupert Murdoch Media chief, has backed Blair in every election he has contested as Labour leader.
- Stephen Pound MP
- John Reid MP
- Michael Gove Conservative MP Admits that he is a Blairite saying "I can't hold it back any more; I love Tony!"
- Trevor Kavanagh Sun newspaper Journalist [citation needed]
- Chris Evans TV Presenter
- Ross Kemp Actor [citation needed]
[edit] References
- ^ How to bear Blair: become a Blairite Will Hutton, Guardian Unlimited - Comment is free, 21 June 2006
- ^ Jack the Knife goes for the clearout kill Kirsty Milne, The Scotsman, 28 November 2001
- ^ Will he? Won't he? Suzie Mackenzie, The Guardian, 25 September 2004
- ^ Kennedy can still exploit this perfect political storm Martin Kettle, The Guardian, 26 April 2005
