Times thanks Tony for his legacy

Tim Hames, writing in the Times today, told of how he felt about living in Blair's Britain. Britain's turnaround came about almost entirely under Blair's leadership, as Tim explains. It is easy to be blase about it, but during Tony Blair's time in office Britain has stopped it's steady decline, and is clawing its way back into the international arena.

The UK's lagging economy has been taken in hand, and has experienced the second largest economic growth of any G8 nation, rising two places to become the worlds fourth largest economy. Britain has moved from it's historical position as a manufacturing nation to its new position as the services capital of the world. New York, says Mr Hames, is in danger of falling into London's shadow.

Blair's time in office has also seen the strengthening of the UK's political power around the world, as the UK-US special relationship has become meaningful for the first time since world war two. Europe has seen unparralleled growth during Blair's time, as ten new nations join the common market, opening up new opportunities and driving up GDP in Europe.

Basically the point of all this is that due to a mixture of economic, home and foreign policy- much of it unpopular- Blair's legacy is now solid. He has transformed Britain from Europe's grumpy uncle to the second most powerful nation in the world, and for that we must thank him.

Scotland Hovers upon the Edge

As separatist feeling reaches an all-time high in scotland students wonder whether or not they will soon be requiring a passport to return to their home country. As Scottish students flood into English Universities- and likewise English students into Scotland- confusion abounds as to what exactly is going on.

"Well", the separatists say, "Scotland is a nation in it's own right, and we deserve to be able to govern ourselves."

This seems like a fair enough proposal to many people. After all, no-one born in England could doubt Scottish nationality, and the right to self-govern is a long established principle. But what people tend to forget is that...

Scotlands status as a nation is guaranteed in the act of union...
Scotlands right to self-governance was granted by referenda in 1997

In fact the reason why Scotland is in the Union is that the Union is beneficial for both nations, as they have been one state for so long that they are inter-dependent to such a level that separate both would be seriously weakened.

Strangely, though recent polls suggest that a small majority of Scots favour independence a larger majority fear that independence would harm the Scottish economy... So basically they want to pull out, even though it would harm them... Strange! Anyway, we can expect the Labour Party to do it's best to forestall the issue, as Mr Brown is unlikely to relish a political future restricted to the borders of Scotland, as he becomes an immigrant in the city which he has considered to be his second home for most of his life.

Bloody Students comes online

Bloody Students first post... a historic day... or not.

However, coincidentally today is also a historic day for the Prime Minister, as amid scandal over the 'cash-for-peers' row he spoke to the NPF (National Policy Forum) of the Labour Party. The Prime Minister advised that storms of media interest like this come to all parties after many years of rule.

"In politics at the top you get used to the periodic storms and I don't for a moment, incidentally, underestimate the volume of this one and whilst you and perhaps more accurately me are in the eye of it. It can be hard to stay calm as it rages, but however buffeted, it should not change our course or our confidence."

It is perhaps apt at this time of turbulance over the leadership election that the man who is most calm and determined to stay strong to his principles is the man on his way out.