The Wardman Wire

A Scottish summary of Tony Blair as John Major’s Heir, and setting something of an historical context from Select Society. A few snippets below. You can read the whole thing here:

Tony Blair’s glittering skills as a politician conceal the fact that in policy terms he was a pigmy. His best attribute was that he had the sense to float with the great tide of liberal reform that has swept Britain along for the last three decades. It is amusing to see his acolytes now laying claim to this agenda as though New Labour – and not the radical thinkers of the 1970s – had unleashed the flow.

…almost all of his reforms simply built upon those already started by his predecessor John Major (inspired in turn by the Thatcher government). Major introduced competition and variety into health and education – the main theme of Blair’s approach to public services. Bank of England independence, heralded by the ‘Ken and Eddie show’, was entrenched by Blair’s government. Everywhere you look – liberalisation of utility industries, privatisations, public / private partnerships – his economic policy was a continuation of Major’s.

Main difference? I’m missing the elephant in our room. Blair, no respecter of history or principle, made a series of rushed constitutional changes, designed largely for party political advantage. His successors will need to re-establish the accountability and limits of politicians, and this will have big implications for Scotland.

I had, and have, a lot of time for John Major, as a politician without personal pretentiousness. He also likes cricket, which always helps.

Tags: john major, select society, tony blair, new labour, blair inheritance, heir to blair[tags]john major, select society, tony blair, new labour, blair inheritance, heir to blair[/tags]