Blair survives. Just.

A 5 vote majority, slightly down from the usual 165. Although relieved that a bill that (in my opinion) that made higher education funding more progressive, it is worrying that our Prime Minister has managed to outrage his own party so much that they made this issue on of his leadership rather than the policy itself.

So relief for Blair, and according to leaks to The Sun, he’ll be mostly cleared by the Hutton report as well. Blair looks like remaining as PM, but the question remains - what is he going to do now? How is he going to reassert his authority after a year on the ropes, and with a resurgent Tory party over his shoulder?

Blair needs to start re-engaging with his party and his people, not with such PR larks as the Big Conversation but by recommitting the Labour Party to social justice and genuine change for the better. New Labour have done a fair bit over the past seven years - the minimum wage, the New Deal, family tax credits, baby bonds - but lately Blair has concentrated on reform of institutions (top-up fees, foundation hospitals again) rather than new initiatives. As Gordon Brown has said, we are best when we are at our boldest - so why not bring about some real change - universal childcare, improved rights for younger workers, a proper law against corporate killing, proactive initiatives on rail and transport? Blair has to convince his people and his party that he can do ‘New’ things again, if he is to gain their confidence after this bleak period.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 28th, 2004 at 01:19:16 and is filed under General.