Case Study: Tony Blair

Question 1

What were his strong suits?

Answer 1

1. He possessed great self-confidence and a very clear vision of what he wanted to achieve as prime minister.
2. He achieved a massive parliamentary majority of 179 in 1997, gave him an extraordinary personal mandate to implement change.
3. Was committed to the centrist third way, also provided his government with strong philosophical foundations.
4. Enjoyed a strong rapport with the British people.

Question 2

In what way was he highly presidential?

Answer 2

1. Was referred to as a ‘command prime-ministership’ in which the cabinet was so diminished that it was simply notified of decisions that had already had been made in the prime minister’s Private Office.
2. Referred to as a ‘sofa government’ as he made key decisions in bilateral meetings with senior ministers and key advisers like Jonathan Powell (chief of staff) and Alastair Campbell (press secretary).

Question 3

Making decisions without cabinet:

Answer 3

1. Before the first cabinet meeting Blair and his chancellor of the exchequer (Gordon Brown) had decided to give interest raising powers to the Bank of England.
2. This was a momentous political decision designed to encourage economic stability by stopping the government from manipulating interest rates to its advantage .
3. When Robin Butler, the chief secretary to the cabinet, asked if the prime minister would like to discuss this he said ‘They’ll agree.’

Question 4

Dome:

Answer 4

1. Blair was personally in favour of building the Millennium Dome, this was strenuously opposed in cabinet.
2. He ignored his colleagues’ reservations and plans continued.

Question 5

Iraq War 2003:

Answer 5

1. Preparations for the Iraq War in 2003, were the most striking example of the cabinet not being consulted by Blair on key issues.
2. The publication of the Chilcot Report in 2016 shows how Blair failed to consult the cabinet about the advisability of war and that most members of his government accepted the decision to invade Iraq as a fait accompli.

Question 6

Blair and Brown:

Answer 6

1. Part of the deal that Gordon Brown would not challenge for leadership of the Labour Party in 1994 was that Brown would have full control of the British economy.
2. Even though Blair was keen to join the European single currency, Brown continually roadblocked this by demanding that his ‘5 tests’ for membership first be fulfilled.

Question 7

Fall of Blair:

Answer 7

1. Controversies of the legality of the Iraq War and the political fallout of the 2005 general election.
2. Blair only won 32.5% of the popular vote (the lowest a single party government ever achieved) making him an electoral liability.
3. The cabinet increasingly looked to Brown to provide the government with a new dynamic, especially since in 2005 the youthful David Cameron had taken over the Conservative Party.
4. September 2006, announced he would resign within a year.

Question 8

Own Party:

Answer 8

1. Had a majority of 179 in 1997.
2. Backbench revolts were limited in his 1st two terms but increased after 2005 Terrorism Bill.
3. In 2005 majority was reduced to 67 and there were fears in 2006 that he would be challenged for leadership.

Question 9

Other Wars:

Answer 9

1. 1998 sent troops to Kosovo to fight against Serbians.
2. Took the UK to war in Afghanistan.