Blair heralds change as CSM recognises ‘tough choices’
-26/09/06
Tony Blair emerged
Blair heralds change as CSM recognises ‘tough choices’
-26/09/06
Tony Blair emerged into the blinking cameras and bright lights of the 2006 Labour conference to rapturous (if well-coordinated) applause, when he made his final speech this afternoon as Prime Minister to the Partyís annual gathering. The PM has announced that he will leave the post within the lifetime of the current UK parliament.
In a highly telegenic performance, the emphasis of Mr Blairís message was that the leaders lead, but at the end of the day it is the people who act. He encouraged his listeners to step back from the negativity of daily political reporting to take a look at what he claimed was ìa changed countryî since he was first elected in 1997.
His ìforward lookingî approach was welcomed by Stephen Beer, vice-chair of the Christian Socialist Movement (CSM), who told Ekklesia that his organisation would be fully involved in upcoming national policy debates about ìtough choices for the futureî.
Among the gains Tony Blair emphasised were devolution in Scotland and Wales, record investment in public services, a minimum wage, tax credits, greater employment rights, an elected London mayor, reductions in child poverty, and meeting the aspirations of a wider range of people.
His speech included a robust defence of British troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, and curbs on liberties in the name of security. And in spite of the findings of the latest combined intelligence report from the USA, he continued to deny that the recent US-led invasions were a factor in encouraging terrorism, which he described as ìan attack on our way of lifeî. The churches in Britain and Ireland have been overwhelmingly against these wars.
Mr Blair said that Christians, Muslims and people of all convictions should unite around shared beliefs in tolerance and freedom rather than sectarian hatred. He emphasised common interests with both the United States and Europe, and promised action on Israel-Palestine and Africa.
CSMís Stephen Beer told Ekklesia that those who disagree about the war can still rally round the Prime Ministerís ìcommitment to dedicate the final part of his term in office to sorting out these problems, particularly Palestine and Israel, seeing them as linked to grievances which some then use to justify their existing ideology of terror.î
Attacking his radical opponents in and outside the party, Tony Blair declared: ìValues unrelated to modern reality… become de-valued… We won not by surrendering our values, but by finally having the courage to act on them.î
In a veiled aside about ex-minister Clare Short (who has criticized Labourís foreign policy, centralising tendencies and top-heavy Cabinet government), Mr Blair spoke of former ministerial colleagues ìwho did not lack principles in office, nor find them when they left it.î
But his critics will be quick to point out that, in addition to being embroiled in a neocon-shaped global agenda, overall Britain has become more, not less, unequal under New Labour ñ with large income and wealth differentials.
However, the massive future challenges facing the modern world are global more than national, said Mr Blair. He highlighted worldwide economic and communications opportunities, the growth of India and China, environmental dangers, immigration, and terrorism in the name of religion ñ but global poverty and injustice only in relation to aid and debt relief towards the end.
The answer to the global puzzle, he suggested, was balancing security and opportunity, and encouraging the British people to be effective, rather than reluctant, global citizens.
Among Mr Blairís pledges was a controversial commitment to nuclear power (repeated twice), extending bioscience (including stem-cell research rejected by President Bush), banning junk food in schools if a voluntary code fails, 40 per cent more energy efficiency, exceeding the Kyoto targets (a 60 per cent reduction on emissions by 2050), preserving the welfare state, and radical reform in public services to rebuild rather than privatize them.
He described ëidentity cardsí, which have been criticized as an ineffective and expensive breach of basic civil rights, as ìadapting liberty to the modern world.î And he said, on crime, that liberty should ìstand up for the rights of the law abidingî. Human rights campaigners are likely to be less enamoured with his rhetoric.
The Prime Ministerís final rallying call was ìthe courage to changeî. He said that the British people would forgive wrong decisions, but not the failure to make decisions, and he described himself as “a progressiveÖ in a harsh uncompromising world.î His final words were: ìYou are the future, make the most of it.î
Noticeably, the Prime Minister, though praising Chancellor Gordon Brown, did not endorse his candidature for the leader of the Labour Party ñ a yet-to-be-declared contest which so far has only one known participant, left-winger John McDonnell MP.
Speaking for the Christian Socialist Movement in the immediate aftermath of the speech, Stephen Beer (who is a senior fund manager at the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church) said that Mr Blairís stress on facing up to hard decisions was right.
For Christians, Mr Beer declared, responding to criticisms that groups such as CSM affiliated to political parties are restricted in their identity and impact, ìparty politics matters because it is the place where real differences have to be debated and worked out and where tough choices have to be made.î
[Also on Ekklesia: British Prime Minister seeks divine solace in Manchester 24/09/06; Thousands march against war at Labour conference in Manchester 23 Sep 2006; Christian Socialists defend NestlÈ sponsorship; [PDF] CSM and NestlÈ UK; Tony Blair’s use of the ‘G’ word – by Jonathan Bartley; The ‘which Blair?’ project Simon Barrow asks what the PM has faith in anymore; US church leaders lament George Bush’s ‘messianic complex’ and praise Blair for listening; Bush and Blair banned from the Church of the Nativity; Christian Socialists want to hold Blair to justice agenda; Blair faces growing criticism over God and Iraq comments; Cameron and Blair offered ‘Punch and Judy’ workshop; Blair challenged by Christian peacemakers; Blair-Benedict meeting stokes rumours; Campaigners want more from Blair on climate change; Catholics urge Blair to make anti-poverty pledge; Tutu tells Blair and Brown they’ve been ‘mean’; Christian Aid challenges Blair on EU poverty impact; Donít mention the war, says Blair; Text of Blair’s speech to Faithworks; Christian concern at Blair comments on deportation; Church leaders tell Blair that nukes are evil and anti-God; Prime Minister faces backlash over speech about moral war with Iraq; Why history cannot forgive us Simon Barrow asks whether the PM’s belief in the absolution of history is a leap of faith in the wrong direction]
Blair heralds change as CSM recognises ‘tough choices’
-26/09/06
Tony Blair emerged into the blinking cameras and bright lights of the 2006 Labour conference to rapturous (if well-coordinated) applause, when he made his final speech this afternoon as Prime Minister to the Partyís annual gathering. The PM has announced that he will leave the post within the lifetime of the current UK parliament.
In a highly telegenic performance, the emphasis of Mr Blairís message was that the leaders lead, but at the end of the day it is the people who act. He encouraged his listeners to step back from the negativity of daily political reporting to take a look at what he claimed was ìa changed countryî since he was first elected in 1997.
His ìforward lookingî approach was welcomed by Stephen Beer, vice-chair of the Christian Socialist Movement (CSM), who told Ekklesia that his organisation would be fully involved in upcoming national policy debates about ìtough choices for the futureî.
Among the gains Tony Blair emphasised were devolution in Scotland and Wales, record investment in public services, a minimum wage, tax credits, greater employment rights, an elected London mayor, reductions in child poverty, and meeting the aspirations of a wider range of people.
His speech included a robust defence of British troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, and curbs on liberties in the name of security. And in spite of the findings of the latest combined intelligence report from the USA, he continued to deny that the recent US-led invasions were a factor in encouraging terrorism, which he described as ìan attack on our way of lifeî. The churches in Britain and Ireland have been overwhelmingly against these wars.
Mr Blair said that Christians, Muslims and people of all convictions should unite around shared beliefs in tolerance and freedom rather than sectarian hatred. He emphasised common interests with both the United States and Europe, and promised action on Israel-Palestine and Africa.
CSMís Stephen Beer told Ekklesia that those who disagree about the war can still rally round the Prime Ministerís ìcommitment to dedicate the final part of his term in office to sorting out these problems, particularly Palestine and Israel, seeing them as linked to grievances which some then use to justify their existing ideology of terror.î
Attacking his radical opponents in and outside the party, Tony Blair declared: ìValues unrelated to modern reality… become de-valued… We won not by surrendering our values, but by finally having the courage to act on them.î
In a veiled aside about ex-minister Clare Short (who has criticized Labourís foreign policy, centralising tendencies and top-heavy Cabinet government), Mr Blair spoke of former ministerial colleagues ìwho did not lack principles in office, nor find them when they left it.î
But his critics will be quick to point out that, in addition to being embroiled in a neocon-shaped global agenda, overall Britain has become more, not less, unequal under New Labour ñ with large income and wealth differentials.
However, the massive future challenges facing the modern world are global more than national, said Mr Blair. He highlighted worldwide economic and communications opportunities, the growth of India and China, environmental dangers, immigration, and terrorism in the name of religion ñ but global poverty and injustice only in relation to aid and debt relief towards the end.
The answer to the global puzzle, he suggested, was balancing security and opportunity, and encouraging the British people to be effective, rather than reluctant, global citizens.
Among Mr Blairís pledges was a controversial commitment to nuclear power (repeated twice), extending bioscience (including stem-cell research rejected by President Bush), banning junk food in schools if a voluntary code fails, 40 per cent more energy efficiency, exceeding the Kyoto targets (a 60 per cent reduction on emissions by 2050), preserving the welfare state, and radical reform in public services to rebuild rather than privatize them.
He described ëidentity cardsí, which have been criticized as an ineffective and expensive breach of basic civil rights, as ìadapting liberty to the modern world.î And he said, on crime, that liberty should ìstand up for the rights of the law abidingî. Human rights campaigners are likely to be less enamoured with his rhetoric.
The Prime Ministerís final rallying call was ìthe courage to changeî. He said that the British people would forgive wrong decisions, but not the failure to make decisions, and he described himself as “a progressiveÖ in a harsh uncompromising world.î His final words were: ìYou are the future, make the most of it.î
Noticeably, the Prime Minister, though praising Chancellor Gordon Brown, did not endorse his candidature for the leader of the Labour Party ñ a yet-to-be-declared contest which so far has only one known participant, left-winger John McDonnell MP.
Speaking for the Christian Socialist Movement in the immediate aftermath of the speech, Stephen Beer (who is a senior fund manager at the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church) said that Mr Blairís stress on facing up to hard decisions was right.
For Christians, Mr Beer declared, responding to criticisms that groups such as CSM affiliated to political parties are restricted in their identity and impact, ìparty politics matters because it is the place where real differences have to be debated and worked out and where tough choices have to be made.î
[Also on Ekklesia: British Prime Minister seeks divine solace in Manchester 24/09/06; Thousands march against war at Labour conference in Manchester 23 Sep 2006; Christian Socialists defend NestlÈ sponsorship; [PDF] CSM and NestlÈ UK; Tony Blair’s use of the ‘G’ word – by Jonathan Bartley; The ‘which Blair?’ project Simon Barrow asks what the PM has faith in anymore; US church leaders lament George Bush’s ‘messianic complex’ and praise Blair for listening; Bush and Blair banned from the Church of the Nativity; Christian Socialists want to hold Blair to justice agenda; Blair faces growing criticism over God and Iraq comments; Cameron and Blair offered ‘Punch and Judy’ workshop; Blair challenged by Christian peacemakers; Blair-Benedict meeting stokes rumours; Campaigners want more from Blair on climate change; Catholics urge Blair to make anti-poverty pledge; Tutu tells Blair and Brown they’ve been ‘mean’; Christian Aid challenges Blair on EU poverty impact; Donít mention the war, says Blair; Text of Blair’s speech to Faithworks; Christian concern at Blair comments on deportation; Church leaders tell Blair that nukes are evil and anti-God; Prime Minister faces backlash over speech about moral war with Iraq; Why history cannot forgive us Simon Barrow asks whether the PM’s belief in the absolution of history is a leap of faith in the wrong direction]