News UK Election: Hopes, Fears & Predictions

[icvotria]

The IRA is that anything like Oglaigh na hEireann?

Smart alec.

 

[SOS2008]

Projections: Blair may be wounded winner

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7706165/?GT1=6542

MSNBC News Services
Updated: 9:00 p.m. ET May 5, 2005

LONDON - Tony Blair’s Labour Party won an unprecedented third term in office but with a sharply reduced majority in Parliament that could set the stage for Blair to be replaced by a party rival, according to exit poll projections broadcast as vote counting began in Britain’s national election Thursday.

With a projected 66-seat majority, Blair could face difficulties controlling a faction of his party deeply disillusioned with his leadership, especially over the war in Iraq, and ready for a new prime minister such as Treasury chief Gordon Brown.

...The margin of a Labour victory could have consequences for Britain’s “special relationship” with the United States.

The battering that Blair took over Iraq during the campaign suggested that any future British leader will probably be wary of backing Washington militarily in the face of hostile domestic opinion.

Dire forecasts emerge
Some political observers have offered dire forecasts for Blair's third term should the projections prove true. “Anything under 70 will be seen as a sign of lack in confidence in Blair and reassurance for Brown,” said Stephen Wilks, politics professor at Exeter University, referring to the number of Labour seats.

So icvotria, it may not be that bad. Blair may win the battle, but then lose the war (like someone else we know).

 

[icvotria]

Yuck, he's on tv. I hate the way he talks, he's so patronising and contrived and hideously earnest. And I hate his wife. And I hate the way he ignores his wife. I hope he stands down tomorrow morning, first thing.

 

[SOS2008]

Yuck, he's on tv. I hate the way he talks, he's so patronising and contrived and hideously earnest. And I hate his wife. And I hate the way he ignores his wife. I hope he stands down tomorrow morning, first thing.

Does his voice make you cringe, and grimace, and scream "please shut up and go away?" And it's even worse if you look at his horrible face, isn't it? I know what you're talking about.

 

[wasteofo2]

For the Brits out there, what is the likelyhood/feasability that Blair might not continue on as the PM? What're the procedures for a party changing their Prime Minister? Would he have to step down, would there only have to be a majority within the Labour Party supporting a new PM, would there have to be a majority in the entire Parlaiment supporting a new PM, would Blair have to be impeached - or could they just decide they didn't want him anymore as the PM but let him keep his seat and get a new guy they like better?

 

[stoned]

Does his voice make you cringe, and grimace, and scream "please shut up and go away?" And it's even worse if you look at his horrible face, isn't it? I know what you're talking about.

Bush is 100 x worst, no one beats him ! and never will !

 

[icvotria]

Bush is 100 x worst, no one beats him ! and never will !

Which is worse though, the idiot, or the idiot that listens to him? I'm so filled with hate right now. How on Earth do these awful people manage to get in these positions?

 

[SOS2008]

Bush is 100 x worst, no one beats him ! and never will !

My blind study worked! I was referring to Bush. Of course if I had added that he pontificates with mispronounced words while moving his head like a chicken, then you would have known for sure! I feel their pain.

 

[stoned]

politicians lie, they steal, whatever, but at least they should do it with class

 

[brewnog]

For the Brits out there, what is the likelyhood/feasability that Blair might not continue on as the PM? What're the procedures for a party changing their Prime Minister? Would he have to step down, would there only have to be a majority within the Labour Party supporting a new PM, would there have to be a majority in the entire Parlaiment supporting a new PM, would Blair have to be impeached - or could they just decide they didn't want him anymore as the PM but let him keep his seat and get a new guy they like better?

I'm not sure on the mechanisms by which he'd do it, but I think it's generally assumed that he's not going to serve a full term. He could stand down any time he wanted, because we've voted Labour in, not Blair (well, I say 'we'...!). I don't believe he has any responsibility to find a successor before he stands down. I think it's just a matter for the Labour party to decide who they want as boss. I'm almost certain that when he does step down, he'll stay in the party, and probably be a backbencher at the very least.

 

[stoned]

blair's government was discredited but what i found very interesting is that George Galloway won a seat in east london.
Galloway was expelled from labour because of his anti war position and now as independent won seat in mostly bangladeshi-pakistani district. he beat Oona King black-jewish labour politician to the shock of labour who were 100% sure of King victory.
and just recently we hear about accusations of Galloway taking money from Saddam Hussein oil for food programme.they are trying to destroy him every way possible.of course all of their accusations are cooked up by same people who worked on forgeriess leading up to the attack on Iraq.

 

[arildno]

I lost my respect for Tony Blair long ago.
When he was exposed to be a liar, he drove an honest man into suicide.

So many people are demonizing George Bush these days; however, GB is at the very least a sincere man with his own visions, TB is simply a power-hungry creep.