Tony Blair's has left No. 10, but how will history remember him?

27th June 2007

This day is a historic day for not only the United Kingdom, but also the entire world. Tony Blair, a iconic Prime Minister in many ways, has ended his ten year long tenure as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
How should we feel? Rejoiced that a man who has led us into a war where a outcome does not seem clear in the near future? Or sad that we have lost a Prime Minister who has truly tried for Great Britian in many ways and only made one major failure. It must be remembered that Tony Blair has made Britain into what it is today, a strong economic power which is at the forefront of Worldwide negotations.
After the economic turmoil of the 60s-90s, Mr Blair has succeded in making the UK into a stable country, of general content. Yes, it can be argued that the NHS is in shambles, but to be fair when wasn't it? The alliance he has created with many powerful political leaders has been critized to some extent, however i think the way he has connected Great Britian to the outer world has been fantastic, with George Bush of the United States, and before him Clinton, we now have a extremly strong ally who will stand by us no matter what, the 'special alliance' as they call it. He's also taken Britain out of the political back-waters of the EU and has now brought Britian to the fore of EU discussions. His growing relationship with Sarkosy of France, even though he is out of office, will greatly help Britian. He was in many respects a breath of fresh air to a enviroment dominated by the 'out of touch' elder generations.
However what has he done wrong. Critics argue that education standards have gone down, his choice of cabinet officials has been, frankly, awful (Charles Clarke for example), debts are going high and pensions seem to be falling down the drain pipe. Many argue he has put too much money into a system that in the end dindn't work. Roosevelt did that in the United States after during the depression with his New Deal, and was critizised by many for pouring in billions of dollars into a system that seemed not to be working, but in the end it did.
What must be realised with Blair is his impact on not only short-term Britain, but also long-term Britain. His legacy will always be in British Politics. For instance, he introduced the mininum wage. Although he did drag the UK into a war that felt, at least to me, as just as first, but a shambles now. Although he started a new war, he ended a hugely bloody war, something which David Cameron praised him for.
But it shows that Blair has been elected foriegn envoy for the quartet of the UN, America, EU and Russia that he is indeed a great politician and has the gift of the gab, this job is a tribute to Mr Blair. Will history be kind to Blair? We will have to wait and see, i feel his longer-term influences on us will leave a lot for us to judge him on.
No matter what you and i will think of the ex Prime Minister, he will be rememebered in history for various things
Was Blair a liar? Did he try for the best of the nation? Was he decietful? Was he let down by those around him? Could he of done worse or better?
Lets hear your comments............