Case Study Tony Blair

From the early 1990s onwards a tight-knit group of leading members of the Labour Party developed a new set of policies designed to challenge the Conservatives and to modernise the UK. They became known as ‘New Labour’ and their beliefs were collectively known as the ‘third way’. The third way was a path somewhere between the radical right-wing, neo-liberal policies of Thatcher and the more socialist ideas of the left wing of the Labour Party, combining the best elements of each. The group was initially led by John Smith and contained such people as Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Robin Cook and Peter Mandelson. In 1994, however, Smith died suddenly and Blair was elected leader of the Labour Party in his place.

By then New Labour had taken over most of the party. The left-wingers (of whom Jeremy Corbyn was a leading member) were only a small minority. Blair, therefore, led a united party with a clear vision and strong determination to oust the Conservatives. It was to prove as cohesive and dynamic as the Conservative group that underpinned Margaret Thatcher’s authority in the mid-1980s. New Labour remained united until events began to divide the party in 2003–04. By 2007 the split in the party was so severe that Blair had to go.

Examples of key policies

An extensive programme of constitutional reform including devolution and the Human Rights Act

Sharp, sustained increases in expenditure on health and education

Increased welfare benef ts for those genuinely unable to support themselves

Introducing a national minimum wage

Introducing tax credits, mainly to reduce child poverty

Granting independence to the Bank of England to establish more rational financial policies

Using government financial surpluses to reduce government debt

An active foreign policy with major interventions in the Balkans war, the Sierra Leone civil war and Iraq

Pursuing closer links with Europe but resisting joining the eurozone

Reducing business taxes to promote economic growth

Style of leadership

Blair was as charismatic as Margaret Thatcher. However, unlike Thatcher, he was part of a collective leadership. The key policies adopted by the Labour government after 1997 were delegated to his leading cohort. Economic policy in particular was handled by Gordon Brown and domestic social policy by other senior ministers such as Jack Straw, David Blunkett, Harriet Harman and Frank Dobson. Blair himself concentrated largely on foreign policy. After 6 or 7 years, however, Blair’s leadership became more singular and his popularity in the party waned. It was widely felt that he had over-reached his authority.