Power to the People

An increasingly vocal number of Labour MPs believe things can only get better if Tony Blair turns his back on Number 10 once and for all. But for whom?

It's typical of the arrogance of politicians to assume they can parashoot a leader in to power without a care for the wants of the electorate. The last time I looked we lived in a democracy and, hate it or love it, only last year the British public voted for Labour under Tony Blair. If Gordon Brown wants to be Prime Minister let him convince the public of his worthiness at the polls not seize power by default in a media-orchestrated coup.

Less than ten years ago, the Labour Party went to great lengths to proclaim Tony Blair the Political Messiah, the saviour of Britain. And from their collective standpoint, what could possibly have gone so wrong? Did they not cooperatively support the government on tuition fess, benefit cuts and Iraq regardless of their own or their constituent's opposition?

MPs clearly have their eyes fixed on next year's local elections. But can they honestly claim to be representing the views of voters or are they simply flexing their political muscle to teach Tony a lesson? After all, in a few short months Tony will be on a permanent holiday in the Caribbean while feverish Labour MPs will be left out in the cold, on the doorsteps dealing with the disgruntlement that's left behind.

Irrespectively, democracy is like a marriage into which both parties willingly enter. Unless he, Tony or we, the people decide to terminate the union we're stuck together for better or worse, at least for a period of four years. The Party is simply the third person in the marriage.

New Labour is showing itself to be no respecter of history. Didn’t the premature ousting of Margaret Thatcher ultimately lead to the long political exile of the Conservative Party? But, unlike the frenetic civil activity that precipitated Mrs Thatcher’s downfall there’s no sense of urgency in the country to remove Tony Blair from office. In terms of foreign policy, home affairs or any other contentious area of strategy would anything really change if Gordon Brown, John Reid or some other Anointed One came in to power tomorrow? I think not.

Presently the only thing the Labour Party is achieving is what millions of pounds and numerous spin doctors failed to - making the Conservative Party look good. And while our choices are limited to the Tony Blair or Tony Blair by any other name it's sadly a case of better the devil you know. But that's for the people to decide. SA.