CURIOUS SORT OF FAILURE:

Poll shows he will leave with voters' respect (Julian Glover, May 10, 2007, The Guardian)

Tony Blair will leave office with his ratings still sky-high among Labour supporters and with the grudging respect of voters of all parties, according to a Guardian/ICM poll out today.

Despite Iraq and Labour's steep decline in public support, Mr Blair will be remembered as a force for change in Britain - although not necessarily for the better - by 60% of all voters and 70% of Labour ones. Asked to give their impressions of the prime minister, taking into account his entire decade in power, 80% of Labour voters say that he was good for the country. Overall, 44% of voters agree - a rating that stands well ahead of Labour's current position in the polls.

Nearly every Blair post-mortem seems to start with the chestnut about all political careers ending in failure. How many British leaders have left (voluntarily) their country and party in better shape?

Posted by Orrin Judd at May 10, 2007 12:59 PM