September 30, 2002

TONY THE TORY'S NOT FOR TURNING:

Blair suffers conference defeat (Nick Assinder, 30 September, 2002, BBC News Online)
Tony Blair has suffered an overwhelming defeat at the hands of his own conference over his programme of using private cash to run public services.

In an embarrassing but predicted setback, the conference backed a motion demanding a full independent inquiry into the effectiveness of the programme by 67.19% to 32.81%.

A motion backing the controversial Private Finance Initiative (PFI) was also defeated as was a call to back the government's approach.


Blair's not for turning (Nick Assinder, 30 September, 2002, BBC News Online)
Tony Blair will on Tuesday face a hostile Labour conference in defiant and unbending mood. The day after he was defeated over his plans on financing the public services, and was widely attacked over Iraq, he will tell delegates he is not for turning.

His speech - widely billed as the most difficult of his leadership - will seek to win over the conference to both the private finance initiative and to his ultimate goal of dealing with Saddam Hussein.

But he will also make it abundantly clear that he is not about to change tack on either issue.

He is expected to get a rough ride from large sections of the conference, deeply concerned over the two issues which have dominated proceedings.


It's entirely appropriate that the Iron Lady's great phrase--"The lady's not for turning"--be used in regard to Mr. Blair who really is in the wrong party. Posted by Orrin Judd at September 30, 2002 9:59 PM
Comments

He most definitely IS in the proper party. I watched his performance at this same annual conference last year. He made a statement (as best I can remember it), "the highest order and responsibility of government is the efficient delivery of public services."



There is not one chance that Margaret Thatcher say something like that.

Posted by: Steve White at September 30, 2002 11:14 PM

But that's what the Tories believe at this point.

Posted by: oj at October 1, 2002 7:11 AM

Moreover, Mrs T was the exception. The Conservative party has been paternalist for most of its history. Mrs T came from the radical/liberal unionist wing of the party, not from the usually dominant Tory wing. Tony Blair would fit in very well on the Tory benches.

Posted by: Iain Murray at October 1, 2002 9:33 AM

Has too much concern for social justice (and government meddling to achieve this) to be a comfortable fit with the Conservatives.

Posted by: M Ali Choudhury at October 1, 2002 3:57 PM
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