The decline and fall of a PM

British Prime Minister Tony Blair is scheduled to visit Queen Elizabeth II today to hand in his notice. This protocol, regarded by some as a mere formality, is to officially advise the Queen of what everyone has long known and waited for: namely, that Blair will step down, as promised, in favour of Gordon Brown, Chancellor of the Exchequer (finance minister).

It was these two who, a decade ago or so, decided to shift Labour Party policies from extreme left to more centre ground in the hope it would make the party more appealing to the populace.

Their gamble paid off, and New Labour, as it liked to be called, shifted ground and having been voted into power, retained many of the policies of the previous Conservative (Tory) Party, which at one time would have been anathema to Labour politicians.

In keeping his promise and stepping down before the next election, Blair is hoping there will be sufficient time for Brown to make a favourable impression upon the British electorate and remain in government.

The Tory Party, under its new leader, David Cameron, has yet to make an impression because what has been heard so far, his policies are more akin to the present Labour government than the (right wing) Tory Party of old.

Doubtless Blair would like to go down in history as the leader who kept Britain in the forefront of international diplomacy, and brought economic stability and improved welfare for the citizens.

Sadly, it is more likely he will be remembered for taking Britain into three wars which the public would have preferred to stay out of. But as Shakespeare's Mark Anthony said of Julius Caesar: "The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones."