Regime Change

[poliphilo]

I'm not going to read the Alastair Campbell Diaries on principle (I think he's a horrible man and I don't want to put any money in his pocket) but I'm not averse to reading about them. And I've read everything that's crossed my path. It seems Armando Ianucci's The Thick Of It gets the ambience of the Blair government exactly right-  laddish, desperate, dithery,  terrified, shallow. These people weren't fit to govern- but is anyone? Apparently most of the Cabinet had serious doubts about the invasion of Iraq- so how come only Robin Cook resigned? 

There's a nice line from Neil Kinnock apropos Blair's decision (before he became P.M.) to send his kids to private schools. "He's sold out before he's even got there."

But Blair and his gang have gone. There's no longer any point in raking through the detritus to prove how disgusting they were.  Lets do our best to forget them.

So- like almost everybody else-  I've been impressed by Gordon Brown's first few weeks in office. Firstly the style of government has changed: no more of that Blairy mateiness- and that's so refreshing. Also- am I absurdly prejudiced?- that policy speech he gave yesterday seemed to contain less uplift and more detail than we've become used to.   I like how he seems to value the House of Commons, I like how he's licensed his underlings to say he won't be "joined at the hip" to George Bush, I like his squashing of the Blairite scheme for funding urban regeneration with "super casinos"  and I like how he seems to be serious about tackling the housing crisis. 

I'm sure I'll find many reasons in future for deploring his premiership, but right now it's just so good to feel there's a grown-up in charge.

Comments

[ingenious76.livejournal.com]

I agree on your impressions of Gordon Brown. He has a gravitas, a reassuring solidness that makes me think this is a man who is capable of leading us through war and peace. My opinion of Tony Blair hit rock bottom when he appeared on the terminally unfunny Frank Skinner's chat show. Plus, with all the bad publicity that accumulated round the Blairs - "Cheriegate", the Carole Caplin influence, cash for honours - waving goodbye to them carried the same sense of relief for me as watching that other ubiquitous "Celebrity" couple, Posh n Becks, leave for LA. For the last couple of years, its felt as though the country has been led by a celebrity wannabe who has nothing but contempt for his people. Brown, at the moment, appears to be wanting to erase that, and I thank him for it.

[qatsi.livejournal.com]

I like the distancing from the US, but I wonder whether there is any higher motive than domestic popularity, as Bush is entering the "lame duck" phase of his presidency anyway, so there is even less value in cosying up to him.

Brown

[(Anonymous)]

I agree with your piece about regime change and Brown's more grown-up leadership. So pleased he is rejecting super casinos as a way of regenerating an area. What a thought that was!
jenny

[besideserato.livejournal.com]

I saw him on the TV talking about the attacks and he was so straight-forward and to the point, it was actually shocking to me. I was horrified at first, then I realized how used we have become to getting bullshitted on the TV. I got a good vibe. Let's see what he does.