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| Britain |
| Welsh secretary spells out price for backing Blair |
| 2003-03-17 |
| The cabinet minister Peter Hain today lays out the price of support for Tony Blair over Iraq: a radical reshaping of New Labour after the looming Gulf war, with a much greater emphasis on the redistribution of wealth. This guy can't be serious! The Welsh secretary plays down talk of a massive Commons rebellion this week. In an interview with the Guardian, he says: "My instinct is that a lot of people who may still have big reservations about this course of action will not want to destabilise Tony Blair's authority at this critical moment." After the war is over, though, Mr Hain makes clear that the "trajectory of the government" will need to be changed in order to enthuse party activists. "We'll have to make it clearer that we are a party that believes in redistribution of wealth and income." He's serious. He suggests that part of the reason why so many Labour supporters are not backing Mr Blair over Iraq is that they have become disillusioned with the government. Mr Hain warns fellow ministers against "any triumphalism" after the war, and calls for "lines in the sand" with Washington over other issues, such as the Kyoto protocol. Mr. Hain, you have no idea how quickly Tony is going to marginalize you after the war is over. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #8 There are the sort of people Tony maginalized to win Labor control of the government. Perhaps the Trotskyites get control back, perhaps not. Victory is always a great antidote to such problems. |
| Posted by: Hiryu 2003-03-17 12:19:16 |
| #7 actually i like this guy, in a funny sort of way. First, he is honest enough to make clear that most of the rebellion against Blair within Labour is not really about Iraq, its about the direction of Labour. And that its time for his fellow lefties to be just as honest. And, while I dont think this is his intent , it could lead to the notion of " a land fit for heroes" - i linking of leftist domestic agenda with a strong foreign agende. Now I realize perfectly well that Tony is already pre-social justice (more so than Bush) and that his domestic opponents in Old Labor support unrealistic old policies, but this is still a far cry better than what weve been hearing from the UK Left. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-03-17 08:49:23 |
| #6 After the war, the UK will have some do-or-die choices on how they will want to live their lives. If Mr. Hain has his way, everyone will be on the dole and capital that is needed to make the UK a healthy economy will flee. The parasites will consume the host if left unfettered. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-03-17 08:20:54 |
| #5 Amen to that, JDB! This is the typical problem with coalitions: The nutcases have more power than they deserve. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-03-17 04:12:01 |
| #4 God Save Tony Blair! |
| Posted by: JDB 2003-03-17 03:30:48 |
| #3 If this is true, the best thing that can happen is a massive rebellion of those Stalinists from the Labour party (but not massive enough to make the Tory votes in support of Blair insufficient). A coalition government of New Labour (the Blairites) with the Tories is the only way to avert the kind of idiotic policies Mr. Hain advocates. |
| Posted by: Peter 2003-03-17 03:07:20 |
| #2 With a mallet. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2003-03-17 00:35:48 |
| #1 After the war, Mr. Hain will be invited to inspect mine fields. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-03-17 00:32:18 |