The Blair dividing line
James Forsyth 10:41am
Most of the press attention on Tony Blair’s speech last night has concentrated on what he said about faith, and understandably so. But to my mind, the most interesting section was when Blair talked about what he sees as the new dividing line in politics today: “The world is interdependent today, economically, politically, even to a degree ideologically.
The divide, then, is between those who see this as positive - the opening up offering opportunity; and those who see it as threatening and wish to close it back down.
As you can see from the Presidential race in the U.S., there are new questions that cross traditional Party lines: free trade vs. protection; engagement in foreign policy or isolationism; supporting immigration or opposing it. In these, the issue is less left vs. right but open vs. closed." This is one of Blair’s favourite themes and if he is right about this, which I think he is, it could transform politics. As David Brooks has argued in the American context, this divide makes a mockery of the current party system. Interestingly, the Miliband manifesto in The Times this morning shies away from addressing this question.
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Comments
Ian C
April 4th, 2008 12:00pmThe populist closed party would outnumber the elitist open party for a very long time. The latter would depend upon the international institutions actually serving a well-defined purpose for a prolonged persiod before voters would put their trust there. (McCain's and Melanie Philips idea for a union of democratic nations would be a pre-requisite).
EyeSee
April 4th, 2008 12:24pmErm, Blair actually believes in a world where he is in charge, there are no elections and his actions are never queried. So why pay any attention to anything he says that is a distraction from this?
Vincent McKenzie
April 4th, 2008 1:35pmThis is just more propaganda clap trap inorder to redefine the boundaries. I am suprised that you think he is right, it sounds like you have fallen for this hook line and sinker. This is simply a realisation that the old boundaries will need to be shuffled around if future manipulation is to be maintained so as to implement the agendas. I have to take my hat off to Blair, he really is the best. He seems to operate from a very basic understanding of human, or herd dynamics: The shepherd sends his dog to push the fastest four or five sheep to the front, then the herd follows on very nicely.
Austin Barry
April 4th, 2008 1:43pmBlair is positing a sequence of false dichotomies. The real dividing line is between the political elite and the people. Between those who believe that supine politically-correct policies will create Utopia, and the governed who see a consequential descent into Dystopia.
McLovin
April 4th, 2008 2:55pmThe state looms large in Miliband's guff. The usual cant, in other words. Ditto Blair.
But how can anyone trust Miliband? The man is a cheesehead. He looks like he was conceived in a petri dish.
Max Kaye
April 4th, 2008 3:19pmI would welcome a period of silence from Blair. He should concentrate on the twin vanities of God and Mammon.
As for David Milipede..... Jeez.... I'm still reeling from the pointless platitude of his claim that he "stands with the people of Zimbabwe". Expressions of 'empathy' and empty gestures have passed their sell-by date. Maybe he should try 'standing' with the people of Zimbabwe as they queue for hours waiting for scarce bread or petrol. Or announcing that we are boycotting the 2008 Olympics.
bill
April 4th, 2008 3:23pmMore guff from Blair. Why anyone should listen to him beats me.
David Lindsay
April 4th, 2008 4:08pm"It could transform politics"? Not while we have three "free"-trading, warmongering (yes, the Lib Dems, that does include you), parties of unrestricted immigration, it couldn't.
STAN, UK
April 5th, 2008 10:21pmWhen it comes to publicity Blair is like a moth to a flame!