Search And Destroy: The Labour Party Conference

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Anyone watching? Anyone listening? Any good performances? Any rubbish ones? What did anyone think of Blair's speech?

― Tom, Tuesday, 2 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Andrew Marr reckons Blair delivered his best speech ever as PM this afternoon. I thought it was 55 minutes? of PR waffle.

[At least Blair didn't use Bush's fav saying "the evil doers" ]

― DJ Martian, Tuesday, 2 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

apparently he wrote it all by himself, he's a big boy now.

― Ed, Tuesday, 2 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I've been shifting for some time from the ol' dogmatic left of my teens to some more tempered politik... luckily i only read that speech so didn't have to suffer Blair's faux-saintliness but was quite alarmed at how much of it i fundamentally agree with. lots of ludicrous claims (cf. minimum wage being somewhat short of a living wage), but the essential principle of globalist free market consumerism tempered by a social conscience, i'm all for.

― matthew james, Tuesday, 2 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I can't believe this thread is languishing so far down the New Answers page, and that so few people have said anything about Blair's "serious" speech. Are we all now so sated with discussion of world events post Sept 11th, that we cannot bear any more for the moment?

Or perhaps the title of the thread is putting people off. Perhaps we should start a new one.

Come on, the media reaction alone makes this worthy of debate. Was this speech inspiring, reckless or just all-style-and-no-substance again? Is this "Blair's finest hour" or was Matthew Parris right to take the piss in the way he has on the front page of The Times today?

I shall be reading the transcript over lunch. More to follow.

― Jeff, Wednesday, 3 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Parts of Blair's speech were dull, but when he dealt with the central theme of a better world, of doing the right thing, of redefining globalisation as progressive internationalism I was surprised to find myself genuinely moved. The news reports just honed in on the Taliban thing, but there was much more to it than that. He ruffled feathers with talk of Palestinian justice, Colin Powell's position as a black man in America, the sorrow of Africa. I thought it was a great speech.

― Nick, Wednesday, 3 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Watched it, taped it, will download text.
Whatever criticism can be thrown at Blair's set-piece speeches, they are seldom dull affairs. Unlike most pols one never quite knows what it might throw in eg Clause 4, or yesterday on the €. He has an awkward relationship with his party, which give his speeches an edge, and he can play the orator when the need arises.
His revivalist- preacher tone can grate, his assertion that more free-trade was the answer to endemic third-world poverty questionable, his pseudo- religious 'all children of Abraham' bizarre at a 'socialist' gathering, BUT with TB what you see is what you get, it was from the heart, it was honest, he directly addressed the objections raised to military action, he is right to criticize latent anti-americanism within and without his party, and 'moralistic and simplistic' it may have been but regards Sept. 11 there was little, v. little in fact, I disagreed with.
When he tried to tie it all in with his domestic concerns eg Public/Private Partnerships it fell a bit flat, and as one of the papers noted the US would be astonished to find they are conducting a campaign based on 'Third Way' communtarianism'. His comments on Rwanda and Africa may return to haunt him, but three cheers for a major western leader actually addressing them.
Without Sept.11 Blair would have been in for a tricky conference, as it is he had an opportunity to shine and took it. His attempts at injecting a bit of positivity, an element of hope, into his assessment of the world post-Sept.11 may not entirely convince, but that is his job, yesterday he did it well.

― stevo, Wednesday, 3 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I will definitely have to search out a copy as I missed it yesterday. When I went into WH Smiths this morning I was amazed at the front covers of the papers. I'm sure conference speeches by the serving PM in the past have never been quite so comprehensively covered. We certainly are living in strange times. Daily Express, 'his finest hour',quite extraordinary seeing a Labour politician feted by a right wing paper. Interesting again the way the Sun highlighted the bit about Islam being our brother rather than say going for the Euro. If he can make the right wing press lie on it's back and have it's tummy tickled then the electorate should be a doddle.

― Billy Dods, Wednesday, 3 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

PM's conference speeches have always got front pages, certainly since Thatcher. Blair's "Forces Of Conservatism" epic from a few years ago was all over even the tabs.

― Tom, Wednesday, 3 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Martian is too harsh.

The fact is that Britain - its fabric, its culture, its self- definition - has changed too much from c.1979 onwards for the traditional left (or, for that matter, the traditional right) to make sense for a significant number of people anymore: pre-Thatcher politics of either side depended on a deep-rooted attachment to the idea of nation and a much smaller influence of mass consumer culture, and that is now irrecoverable. I used to resent Blair for grasping this, now I ruefully admire him for it, and I do believe him when he outlines his core values. Yesterday will, I think, always be recalled as his finest moment - I don't want to curse his future as Churchill unwittingly cursed British self-confidence in the post-war years with his "In a thousand years men will still say this was their finest hour", it's just that there will probably never be a moment like this for great, idealistic statesmanship to come through.

My only worry is how his idea of what globalisation *could* and *should* be (something I share totally: contrary to what I may have hinted in the past I don't oppose globalisation per se) can actually be achieved when you consider how much it goes against what the leading influences of globalisation want. How can you defeat the vested interests of certain massive corporations to create a globalisation of the people, where all cultures and interests exist on equal terms?

Parts of this speech are glowingly idealistic, but not, I think, *totally* unrealistic in the way that the old isolationist left now is (part of me still thinks that MTV culture has to be defeated to create what Blair wants, but nobody who *did* believe that could ever be in a position of a thousandth of Blair's influence). That balance between idealism and reality is, to me, the mark of a great speaker and a great thinker. At this moment, at least. Maybe not always, maybe not forever, but certainly at this moment.

― Robin Carmody, Wednesday, 3 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

blair started off pretty funny, but as he wentr trhough, i found myself actually being glad george was around - he's a much better comedian.

― Geoff, Wednesday, 3 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

God, George Bush at that Washington airport reopening ceremony yesterday - awful! He seemed to not have a script and was floundering badly. It was really embarrassing. Then he slipped in a prepared joke about the mayor only agreeing to going out to dinner with him if Bush paid and the whole assembly guffawed in relief.

― Nick, Wednesday, 3 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Okay, have now read a transcript.

I have been waiting for some time now for a politician to say "let's use this new global consensus for something positive, not just for clobbering bin Laden & co". Never expected TB to say it first (or loudest, at least), and am impressed that he did. This could have been a far less ambitious speech, and it would still have been hailed.

I agree that what Blair said about Africa etc. is not hopelessly idealistic (although, to be more cynical for a second, he managed to leave himself enough outs if nothing happens). And the portion of the speech devoted to the policy on Afghanistan and combating terrorism was pretty much spot on. Nice to see a robust defense of globalisation too.

I was less convinced by the earlier bit attempting to instil confidence - in the economy, that our way of life is strong and will outlast whatever dangers we might face, blah, blah. And if we're going to put the world to rights in one speech, at least some recognition that social justice also means sorting out the darker sides of Western foreign policy and, for want of a better word, capitalism would have been nice. But these are minor quibbles.

Of course, now the real work starts, Tony. Let's hope history recalls that getting GWB to sign up to Kyoto, and not this speech, was your finest hour.

― Jeff, Wednesday, 3 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I'll have to take your word Tom, Your memory must be better than mine. Perhaps I should have said 'most strikingly covered' e.g lot's of photo's of Blair in profile looking senatorial. Which is ironic as the media have always criticised him for being image rather than substance and then do him a big favour by displaying him in a very flattering light.

― Billy Dods, Wednesday, 3 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

four years pass...

Bump. It's going to be an interesting few days. I expect much jockeying for position among the big hitters. I have no idea what sort of reception Blair will get.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Monday, 25 September 2006 09:51 (nineteen years ago)

Brown tries it.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 25 September 2006 11:10 (nineteen years ago)

god just get on with it and FUCK, gordon and tony. the pressure must be unbearable.

― EARLY-90S MAN (Enrique), Monday, 25 September 2006 11:11 (nineteen years ago)

I expect it would be; Brown's a stout fellow.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 25 September 2006 11:12 (nineteen years ago)

how funny would it be if blair used this afternoon's speech to say 'game got switched bitches, big dogg here to stay till the oh-nine' or words to that effect?

― EARLY-90S MAN (Enrique), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 10:56 (nineteen years ago)

I expect he would be arrested by police for incitement to racial hatred.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 11:05 (nineteen years ago)

It's currently fucking up my journey to work as half the street in central Manchester are closed off with anti-terrorist barriers.

Bastards. If they'd funded public transport properly I wouldn't have this problem.

― Stone Monkey (Stone Monkey), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 11:24 (nineteen years ago)

If people paid more tax (you included) you wouldn't have that problem

― Am I Re-elected Yet? (Dada), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 11:36 (nineteen years ago)

bloody socialists, that's your answer to everything!

― EARLY-90S MAN (Enrique), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 11:57 (nineteen years ago)

Of course it is! Tax those rich bastards! Make them suffer!

― Am I Re-elected Yet? (Dada), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 12:01 (nineteen years ago)

i think i have developed the kind of radical tax plan labour need: tax rich people, not me.

― EARLY-90S MAN (Enrique), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 12:02 (nineteen years ago)

What happens when you're rich in ten years' time?

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 12:07 (nineteen years ago)

it'll be time for a 'radical' policy rethink.

― EARLY-90S MAN (Enrique), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 12:09 (nineteen years ago)

As has happened to the turncoat pop group Madness, who recently performed at the birthday party of the Tory Party Treasurer.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 12:10 (nineteen years ago)

They're undergoing a process of reform

― Am I Re-elected Yet? (Dada), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 12:12 (nineteen years ago)

Haha Blair just thanked his wife and said "at least there's no chance I'll run off with the guy next door..."

― suzy (suzy), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 12:44 (nineteen years ago)

"... amirite?"

― EARLY-90S MAN (Enrique), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 12:45 (nineteen years ago)

What a strange thing to say. How often do men run off with the guy next door?

― Am I Re-elected Yet? (Dada), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 12:52 (nineteen years ago)

He's been all Rainbow Coalition about helping Teh Gays WRT civil partnerships throughout the speech - has teh gay on teh brain.

― suzy (suzy), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 12:54 (nineteen years ago)

T. Blair: "at least there's no chance I'll run off with the guy next door..."

C. Blair (off-stage): "that's a lie!"

― EARLY-90S MAN (Enrique), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 12:55 (nineteen years ago)

ah: some possible clarity from the liargate thread:

With reference to 'liargate', Tony Blair said today: "At least I don't have to worry about her running off with the bloke next door." Curious.
-- Daniel Giraffe (daniel.marcu...), September 26th, 2006.

― EARLY-90S MAN (Enrique), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 12:58 (nineteen years ago)

He's been all Rainbow Coalition about helping Teh Gays WRT civil partnerships throughout the speech - has teh gay on teh brain.

Maybe's he's got a really big personal announcement to make that no political commentators saw coming

― Am I Re-elected Yet? (Dada), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 12:58 (nineteen years ago)

Oh, here is the part where he's saying in 1997, terrorism meant the IRA to most people. Gah. In 1997, GWB was only ruining Texas.

― suzy (suzy), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 12:59 (nineteen years ago)

is this a big "DYS, we foiled the IRA"?

― EARLY-90S MAN (Enrique), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 13:01 (nineteen years ago)

I'm quite happy to pay more taxes if I get something in return (or the possibility of access if I need it)

― Stone Monkey (Stone Monkey), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 13:04 (nineteen years ago)

I'm quite prepared to help fund trident 2 if I can take the subs for a spin on sundays.

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 13:05 (nineteen years ago)

Perhaps Cherie was paying tender tribute to the first LL Cool J album.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 13:08 (nineteen years ago)

Gah he just went on a boner for biometric ID cards. Did all y'all see the ad on the back page of yesterday's Guardian, bankrolled, I believe, by a Mr D Albarn?

― suzy (suzy), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 13:13 (nineteen years ago)

Oh, here is the part where he's saying in 1997, terrorism meant the IRA to most people.

But, thanks in no small part to you Tony, it means a hell of a lot more to a hell of a lot more of us in 2006

― Am I Re-elected Yet? (Dada), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 13:14 (nineteen years ago)

Did all y'all see the ad on the back page of yesterday's Guardian, bankrolled, I believe, by a Mr D Albarn?

what did it say?

― EARLY-90S MAN (Enrique), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 13:15 (nineteen years ago)

Yes, what did it say? I don't read the Guardian any more, preferring newspapers to comic books.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 13:17 (nineteen years ago)

"It could be YOU!"

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 13:18 (nineteen years ago)

(ref to the final episode of Absolute Power which I finally watched the other day in which they suggest making ID cards lottery tickets to boost popularity)

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 13:19 (nineteen years ago)

"It could be YOU! You could be next in line to collaborate on my next shite album! Just send off a SAE to...."

― Am I Re-elected Yet? (Dada), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 13:20 (nineteen years ago)

(ref to the final episode of Absolute Power which I finally watched the other day in which they suggest making ID cards lottery tickets to boost popularity)
-- Konal Doddz (stevem7...), September 26th, 2006.

also a really, really bad song off 'the great escape'.

― EARLY-90S MAN (Enrique), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 13:21 (nineteen years ago)

the competition is intense

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 13:22 (nineteen years ago)

Sorry, this went HYOOGE and I do not know how to smallify, but actual size posters available:

ihttp://www.no2id.net/resources/images/BlairBarcode.jpg

― suzy (suzy), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 13:23 (nineteen years ago)

Destroy all of it as it’s causing massive commuter problems for me and many other people.

― not-goodwin (not-goodwin), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 13:26 (nineteen years ago)

original that poster

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 13:27 (nineteen years ago)

yeh making refs to Nazi Germany - so overplayed!

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 13:32 (nineteen years ago)

"ein volk, ein reich, ein euro!"

― EARLY-90S MAN (Enrique), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 13:36 (nineteen years ago)

That poster is lame... no, not that poster, not stevem

― Am I Re-elected Yet? (Dada), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 13:37 (nineteen years ago)

not in my name

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 13:39 (nineteen years ago)

Albarn's bank balance minus expenditure of all prospective Cameron voters on Blur and Gorillaz product = redder than George Galloway on the Central Line in July.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 14:55 (nineteen years ago)

i read the first four posts on this thread thinking it was talking about 2006 but in fact it was 2001. how time has changed.

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 27 September 2006 11:10 (nineteen years ago)

Eschewing the main 'stand firm against Muslim bully boys' gist of the article, Reid on the Tories according to BBC:

He also attacked David Cameron's Conservatives for failing to show leadership by "talking tough and voting soft" on crime and immigration.

He added: "If they won't lead, we will."

What an odd way to put it. As if to say 'we would have the Tories run the country again, but they're just not convincing us they can back up their words'. No ideological opposition as such. A sense of almost reluctance re their position. Attacking the opposition for the behaviour which will keep Labour in power! Laughable.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Thursday, 28 September 2006 11:59 (nineteen years ago)

My union sent me ballot paper for voting on affiliation to the No2ID campaign and I might have said yes, except for that poster.

― beanz (beanz), Thursday, 28 September 2006 12:10 (nineteen years ago)

ah the power of advertising

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Thursday, 28 September 2006 12:11 (nineteen years ago)

good to engage with the substance, eh beanz!?

― EARLY-90S MAN (Enrique), Friday, 29 September 2006 08:09 (nineteen years ago)

four years pass...

oh man he's addressing everyone collectively as CONFERENCE again

― mr. vertical (schlump), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 13:40 (fourteen years ago)

so much sad applause

― mr. vertical (schlump), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 13:42 (fourteen years ago)

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