Not that British politics means all too much for the United States, but here’s an example of how even the slickest leftism backed by the entire popular culture and its MSM can still be beaten by conservatism:
Conservative leader David Cameron hailed his party’s victory in the Crewe and Nantwich by-election as marking the “end of New Labour”.
But while describing Edward Timpson’s triumph - on an emphatic swing of 17.6 per cent - as “remarkable”, Mr Cameron added: “I know we still have a long way to go.”
Mr Timpson wiped out the 7,000 majority achieved by the late Gwyneth Dunwoody in the 2005 general election, to win by a margin of almost 8,000 votes over the former MP’s daughter Tamsin.
Labour’s Deputy Leader Harriet Harman conceded that voters were demanding action on the faltering economy and angry about soaring oil and food prices and the Government’s handling of the abolition of the 10p tax rate.
Maggie Thatcher’s campaign slogan from 1979 was “Labour Isn’t Working” - a double hit on rising British unemployment and the fact that the Labour party really had no clue on what to do about it. Naturally, a leftwing party never, ever has a clue on what to do about things because leftist thought is wrong from the start, and thus can’t get it right. “New Labour” coasted to victory on the back of a stunning rise in world prosperity starting in the 90’s (mostly, of course, the result of Thatcherism in the UK and Reaganism in the USA) which cloaked its manifest failure to get anything right. Blair proved a brilliant politician and showed he had rare courage in backing the liberation of Iraq, but in fiscal and social policy, he was a mess…and his successor is just more so, without the charm of Blair. Now that more stringent times are on offer, Labour is failing to figure out what needs to be done, just as the American left hasn’t a clue (though this is masked by the fact that they are the “out” party, and may get rewarded simply for being such in November…but if the left does win, it’ll all come crashing down as people get a good look at leftwing incompetance).
Keep this in mind, fellow conservatives - if we do enter the political wildnerness in November, it will have an end…we’d prefer to spare our nation a dose of leftism, but we’ll also stand prepared to endure, knowing that the left will mess it up, and the people will turn back to us, just as they are in the UK.
Tags: British politics, Conservatism, Labour Party, Tony Blair, Tory Party
May 23rd, 2008
Guess the Brit’s don’t like “New Labour” without Tony Blair:
Gordon Brown admitted that it had been a “disappointing” night for Labour after the party suffered its worst election results for four decades in what was his first proper electoral test as Prime Minister.
With results still coming in from elections around England and Wales, Labour’s projected national vote share was put at just 24 per cent, trailing 20 points behind David Cameron’s Conservatives on 44 per cent, and even behind the Liberal Democrats on 25 per cent.
The margin was similar to the drubbing received by John Major in council elections in 1995, two years before he was ejected from Downing Street by Tony Blair. Latest analysis suggests that the Tories would enjoy a landslide Commons majority of between 138 and 164 seats if the results were repeated in a general election.
Given how pathetic the Tories have been of late, they certainly wouldn’t deserve that sort of a majority…but the policies of Brown are alienating a lot of Brits. True to form, the left wing of Labour - who made Labour un-electable for more than a decade - are prescribing increased taxes and welfare as the cure-all. Tories probably can’t believe their luck.
Tags: Labour, PM Gordon Brown, Tony Blair, Tory Party, United Kingdom
May 3rd, 2008
Tony Blair converts to Catholicism:
Former British prime minister Tony Blair has converted to Catholicism.
Blair’s official spokesperson told the British Broadcasting Corporation that the former leader converted to Catholicism on Friday night, adding that it was a private matter.
Blair was received into full communion with the Catholic Church by Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor during Mass in the chapel at Archbishop’s House in Westminster.
“I am very glad to welcome Tony Blair into the Catholic Church,” the cardinal said.
“For a long time he has been a regular worshipper at Mass with his family and in recent months he has been following a programme of formation to prepare for his reception into full communion.
“My prayers are with him, his wife and family at this joyful moment in their journey of faith together.”
There is some criticism - understandable, if not really justified - from Catholics over this; Blair, as Prime Minister, was instrumental in advancing the Culture of Death in Britain. Of course, conversion isn’t just an instant thing - there does come a moment when a person realises what they are called to do, but the process of conversion does actually take some time, and sometimes a very long time. I’m not going to critique Blair over positions he held prior to becoming Catholic - if for no other reason than I don’t want to have an avalanche of criticism directed at me for what I did while I strayed away from the Church (he who is without sin, ya know?). As a Catholic, I merely welcome my brother into the faith.
Tags: Catholic Church, Tony Blair
December 23rd, 2007
