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Newsnight

Blair's Britain

  • Newsnight
  • 19 Feb 07, 12:29 PM

blair_britain_203.jpg
In Monday’s programme, Jeremy Paxman begins a new series for Newsnight on how Britain has changed during Tony Blair’s tenure as Prime Minister.

Comment on this subject below, and .

Comments  Post your comment

  • 1.
  • At 01:11 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • Mark wrote:

Oh, the laconic wit!

Jeremy, spare us the smug self-congratulation. A fair question (was Blair's decade good for the UK?), whether delivered by web page or in a Newsnight segment, deserves a proper attempt at synthesis for your viewers. It's called journalism.

  • 2.
  • At 01:43 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • Dr Chris Hudson wrote:

Dear Mr Paxman

Please ask your colleagues on Daily Politics why they never answer my e-mails, which include suggestions on making Mr Blair take early retirement to Barbados

Dr Chris Hudson

  • 3.
  • At 01:52 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • Ian wrote:

What's the point of Mr P being given the time and space when he contributes nothing but look at me, I'm intelligent you know and the fools who employ me don't even realise I have nothing but distain for them. Smugness is rather unflattering in a pompous old man.

  • 4.
  • At 02:14 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • Liz Justice wrote:

The article proves something we all know, even if we don't articulate, that Britain is the land of coffetti laws, rights and reasons. It is so confusing even when you try to be law abiding that we fail and only the richest can survive. Just what has changed again?

When I saw the link in the Newsnight email that said "Blair's Britain: Click Here for more" I was really, genuinely uncomfortable clicking in it, just in case...

Am I alone?

  • 6.
  • At 02:21 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • Martyn wrote:

Ignore the first 3 comments - I thought it was funny.

  • 7.
  • At 02:25 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • Serena Underachiever wrote:

A decade of Blair government has left us, IMHO, with a galloping case of the Emperor's New Lifestyle. It devalued political language by linking it inextricably with the language of the tabloids, and dragged religion into education, among other things, in a socially divisive way. Blair often seemed the snooty outsider of the Labour party, and to positively relish dismantling its traditions. Some of them needed it; others many continue to mourn. I greatly look forward to Sarah Brown becoming the most influential woman in the country - she's intelligent, humane, and a full-time mother, and ideally placed to kick some butt with regard to valuing parenting and making it more economically feasible for those who want to spend more time doing it.

  • 8.
  • At 02:31 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • Bob Milton wrote:

Let us just have television and not be continually being asked to give our opinions, (I'm giving mine at the moment,aren't I?).
I believe that most peoples' views are not worth listening to. They are usually ill-informed.
I would be happier if the ±«Óătv presenters were identified in regard to their support etc for political parties. This would perhaps help us to make up our own minds.
Weren't some of them working for political parties in their past. If they were,- let them be honest and let us know.
For instance is Jeremy Paxman a Marxist???? Come on Jeremy, own up.

  • 9.
  • At 02:47 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • Spartacus wrote:

Jeremy's aversion to the internet reminds me of Lord Kelvin's famous appraisal of the wireless: "Radio has no future".

Come to think of it, Jeremy doesn't appear to have much regard for television either. I pity his producers - it must be like working with a Vogon.

  • 10.
  • At 02:57 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • Manjit wrote:

Message 2#

Perhaps they think you should have better things to do with your time? The PM has said he will be leaving office before the TUC Conference this year, deal with it. If other countries around the world can cope with fixed term Parliament's etc then surely the British can? Or is it beyond us? The Environment Secretary was spot on the other week when he said political discourse in this country needs a 'punchbag'.

No doubt this thread will turn into a prime opportunity to bash Blair....

As for Paxman's contribution on the Newsnight website, does anybody else get the impression that JP has simply had enough of the ±«Óătv? What are the odds that he will walk away from Newsnight in the near future?

  • 11.
  • At 03:07 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • David wrote:

Ahh Paxman. You either love him or you hate him.

  • 12.
  • At 03:11 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • wrote:

The fact is the bank of england, free market forces have been the engine behind the uk economy & not blairs government. The economy has prospered because they have kept there hands off it, not because of it, as with previous labour economic disasters.Secondly this economic boom is built on debt, most people owe at least ÂŁ10k on there credit cards. Fine until we hit another economic recession like 1989. Then disaster, an economic depression.Next the eastern block has collapsed, communism is dead, thank god. China & india have gone capitalist so fuelling a world economic boom, we get the crumbs from the table of this.The next economic crisis will come from a new middle east world war along with global climatic disasters on a biblical proportion from global warming.Typhoons, flooding in the far east, rise in sea levels, arctic winters in the northern hemisphere , drough fires in north america & droughts in africa , the land of unlimited natural resources.the devils work is never done.

  • 13.
  • At 03:11 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • Brian wrote:

Mr. Paxman, do not rank impression over fact.

In life impression is equal to fact. Impressions can affect your state of mind and guide life decisions (or lack of them), both individually and collectively.

If the sixties were about hope, the seventies about decay, and the eighties about greed. What were the Blair years about... impression control?

Apparently, Mr. Blair understands something you do not.

  • 14.
  • At 03:19 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • carol scott wrote:

If you think that 'inflation rate' bears any relation to reality you don't live in my world. Pension decimated at least partly by Mr. Brown, half of what was predicted 10 years ago. Council tax doubled, more than doubled actually. Fuel costs doubled, at least. Yes some things are cheaper, computers, clothes etc. but they are not necessities the other things are. Laws, laws and more laws, half of which are pointless or ignored and fines for everything as our once vaunted freedom is steadily eroded. I really thought Blair would be different and, to be fair, he might have been if he had stood against Brown, he would have won or had the courage to sack him once he realised the damage he was doing to the hard working class. Now I think the years have been a disaster where saying something means that is it done. In that time salary increases have been, in my case 25% so I am certsinly worse off now. Sure my house is worth more, but I can hardly live on phantom money and pity young people trying to get a start in life. I expect it will all collapse under a sea of debt sooner or later.

  • 15.
  • At 03:26 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • Brian wrote:

Mr. Paxman, it would be a mistake to rank impression over or under fact.

In life impression is equal to fact. Impressions can affect you state of mind and guide life decisions (or lack of them), both individually and collectively.

If the sixties were about hope, the seventies about decay, and the eighties about greed. What were the Blair years about... control?

Apparently Mr. Blair and your management understand something you do not.

  • 16.
  • At 03:35 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • Maurice - The former UK wrote:

10 years of Blair and Co.
Product:-
A total shambles across the board.
A very sad fact is that anyone can without fear of court action refer to Tony Blair & Co (a so-called British PM and British Government)
Compulsive Liars!
Incompetance comes as a par for the course for any Labour Government, taking the country into bankrupcy as they did 1979 they are repeating the process.
Immigration - Shambles.
Education - Shambles.
Crime and Justice - Shambles.
NHS - Shambles.
Pensions - Shambles.
Devolution - Shambles.
Referendum - Ignored.
Tax's - Robbery and wasted.
Debt - Through the Roof.
Economy - a Joke, no succesful economy is built on debt, and Britains is.
These of course are described as the achievements of a decade of Labour.
Blairs legacy is as it is, the worst PM and Government in living history!
Adolf Hitler could never have wreaked so much National destruction.
And those English who have felt the wind of unacceptable change and emmigrated already, will be followed by many many more - justifiably!
The Governments preffered imported population can have it.

  • 17.
  • At 03:46 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • Harry wrote:

Well done Jeremy. Another pinpoint strike against the self-importance of people who have a keyboard, a web connection and some misguided view they're "contributing to the debate" because they found a link to the website of the media.

Meanwhile, real life and real debate goes on elsewhere by people without an axe to grind.

The real revolution will not be televised and fit precisely within the advert (or ident) breaks or have its own website.

  • 18.
  • At 03:47 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • Len wrote:

You do not mention what Blair has done to the countryside and we that live in it. MAFF and DEFRA - Foot and Mouth, BSE, Bovine TB, Avian Flu. Not to mention hunting and coursing. It must be assumed that Blair and his ministers just hate the rural community and all its traditions and values. This does not hide the governments sheer incompetence and hypochrisy

  • 19.
  • At 04:08 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • Paula Varley wrote:

I enjoyed reading this article, and hope there will be more.

I can't say I am surprised that we live atop a teetering mountain of unsustainable debt.

How strong would the economy be if we had not been as keen to borrow as if there were no tomorrow? I can't help suspecting that there is a house of cards element to "New Labour New Britain."

  • 20.
  • At 04:09 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • Delyse Silverstone wrote:

Jeremys disdain for new technology is well known and he has a perfect right living as we do in a reasonable democracy to this aversion.

With regard to his further more serious comments surely manufacturing was on the decline well before Labour came to power and having a healthy economy cannot be taken for granted by one who remembers only too well the ones in the 1970-80(?) when alot of people lived in despair at interest rates of 15% etc.

We now have the luxury of looking at other issues such as managed immigration and cutting waiting lists - see todays headlines.

I feel quite happy about the country I live in and if Basra is handed over to the Iraqi authorities in Spring then it will be fait accomplait??

  • 21.
  • At 04:35 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • Barry Reed wrote:

What has Blair done for Britain, absolutely Nothing!
We have the Dome, what that is still costing us I don't know.
Hospital closures, lawlessness, illiterate children,bankrupsies going through the roof, and an illegal war.
Then we have Tony Blair, I am sure everytime he is interviewed he is on another planet, he thinks he is wonderful and all the triumphs under New Labour he wants to come down on planet Earth and actually see the devastation he has actually caused!

  • 22.
  • At 04:52 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • wrote:

Well I sincerely hope that Jeremy doesn't leave Newsnight!:-( it certainly wouldn't be the same without him. Who else has the same impact as him - have we ever seen a politician squirm as much in front of anyone else?(I'm not sorry to see them squirm in the slightest ;-) And who else (refering to the Paxman v Howard interview) has made TV history like that? (it's had thousands of hits on youtube.com!). As for Jeremy's article, I like his style - he captures our attention and makes us smirk, to the point of giggles at the thought of seeing an absurdist play!! By making it humourous, we actually remember the factual points far more. (Remember the really boring lecturer you used to have, when the lecture hall was dark, warm and the voice so monotone it would be a cure for insomnia? Here we have the complete antithesis of that. Why do we remember things when something amusing is attached?) Anyway, I'll stop rambling because I like his article! :-)

  • 23.
  • At 04:53 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • David Gittings wrote:

Blair's Britain - The decade of "things can only get better". Brown's Britain - Two years when "things will only get redder". Back to the Blair decade, which can be summarized thus: Never in the field of politics was so much spun by so many to so little effect. And the truth in it? Blair occasionally stumbled over the truth, but mostly he picked himself up and hurried off as if nothing ever happened.

  • 24.
  • At 04:54 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • BradOdour wrote:

JP's words are perhaps too revealing with regard to this particular subject.

Does he have an academic background?

Is he needlessly focused on fact, and showing real disdain for the power of impression?

Is there is a real danger he will miss the most important aspect of the Blair years?

  • 25.
  • At 05:01 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • R.Landsberg wrote:

Jeremy-could it be that you have had a bad day and are taking it out on us-and your employers? They must have a much kinder wit than yourself to continue signing your cheques.

  • 26.
  • At 05:14 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • David Stockdale wrote:

Keep up the good work Jeremy, there's only you that has the guts to give it to them straight and in direct terms so that even they don't have any doubt as to whether they misunderstood your point.

  • 27.
  • At 05:49 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • wrote:

Maybe Mr Paxman is just giving everyone an insight to the 'New Cyberspaced Britain' where for the majority of people the only form of 'contact' with the outside world occurs via the computer, thus the 'programmers' have to make all the 'New Technology' as variegated and colourful as possible.

Lucky Jeremy Paxman - he won't have to inhabit that world.

  • 28.
  • At 06:38 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • wrote:

Maybe Mr Paxman is just giving everyone an insight to the 'New Cyberspaced Britain' where for the majority of people the only form of 'contact' with the outside world occurs via the computer, thus the 'programmers' have to make all the 'New Technology' as variegated and colourful as possible.

Lucky Jeremy Paxman - he won't have to inhabit that world.

  • 29.
  • At 06:48 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • Ian Cooper wrote:

I have begun to despair over the Blair Syndrome. Gordon what's his name will be too old and past it whenever he gets a go at doing whatever they're doing. We can only pray that the messing about with the House of Lords (whatever we call it) hasn't done away with their ability to throw out self-perpetuating legislation, 'cause if it has we face Blair and his mates for life or the tenure of Parliament - whichever is the longer! A capiltal crime in America is punished more humanely than the British subject whether or not he voted for Blair. I must throw up my hands and plead for mercy because I was one of those who asked for it. (and yes, even though it's fashionable to call us citizens, we are still subjects with no rights (that's the legal position) other than those granted by the much-maligned Europe!) I suppose that atleast while we have Blair we have a token Englishman in Parliament - are there any others?

  • 30.
  • At 07:09 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • David wrote:

The dumbing down of TV, especially the exceptionally smug ±«Óătv, has gone hand-in-hand with the dumbing down of Britain under the deceitful and incompetent reign of Emperor Blair.

Perhaps they think if we're presented with pretty pictures, dramatic music, and pointless edifices (such as the Dome, that Big Wheel thing, ID cards, and, oh yeah, New Labour itself) no one will notice the country's in deep do-do.

  • 31.
  • At 07:31 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • Jackie wrote:

Much of the foregoing is relevant and true, but on a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT tack Mr.Paxman, a lesson in grammar would not go amiss!

Look carefully at the second fact in your list.

You may say: "there are large numbers of regulations..." or "there is a large amount of regulation..." but not "there are a large amount of regulations..."

  • 32.
  • At 09:01 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • Alex Wilson wrote:

Smug paxman meets smug blair. That'd be a good title for a ±«Óătv program. They could be put in a room together and they could have a smug off. Who would win? Would it be Paxman with his absurd play anecdote or Blair with his minimum wage, Bank of England, lower NHS waiting times rearguard. Who will Win? Surely it'll be close. Unlikely. Since when you scratch the surface of Blair's smugness you reveil a layer of turmoil over comitting troops to the slaughter on flimsy pieces spin. The worst thing JP has done is abruptly say "Hurry Up" to an innocent looking student who really does know the answer.
Stand proud on top of your Ben Nevis of right JP, but please, get to the point!

  • 33.
  • At 09:06 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • Frank Hudson wrote:

Many of to-day's generation may never have heard of High Treason, but it still appears on the Statute Book and must therefore rank as it always did as one of the most serious crimes in the land.

The term 'In the National Interest' might be one for debate, but in former times a charge of High Treason, if found, was punishable by death.

By definition - High Treason is an act of treachery against the Sovereign or the State; a violation of one's allegiance; betrayal.

Treacherous - is defined as traitorous, perfidious, untrustworthy, having a good appearance but bad in character.

Allegiance (in this regard) is defined as fidelity, loyalty, devotion to one's Sovereign and Nation etc.

Given that a Prime Minister swears an oath of allegiance when taking office, then evidence of any breach or violation of that allegiance needs immediate investigation and consideration in terms of removing the said P.M. from what is without doubt the highest and most important office in the country. If this results in a charge of High Treason being brought then that is exactly how it should be.

From day one of his tenure, the covert and sinister agenda of Blair and his cabal has been to dismantle the National institutions, eradicate all sense of National identity and follow the Machiavellian principle of 'divide and rule', has been all but completed and the fact that Mandleson, Campbell et-al no longer appear to be influencing operations is simply and farcically a myth.

Between now and the end of the German Presidency of the EU, anything and everything that can be used on the front pages and newsreels to divert the National focus from the final stages of the fanatical ambition to present Great Britain's head on a platter to the un-elected bureaucrats of Brussels will be promoted for all its worth.

If that doesn't amount to High Treason then nothing does!

  • 34.
  • At 09:36 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • John Wilson wrote:

I hate that title - It's not Blair's Britain at all. Blair has taken us into an embarrassing war that we cannot afford. Most people of this land have worked very hard to compensate for bad government but even that had no chance saving our industrial strength. Now we are going to be restricted in our movements and liberty. Tell me I'm wrong please but how can credit be a stable way to live. Exactly what good has he and Brown been.

  • 35.
  • At 10:23 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • Oliver Wood wrote:

The ±«Óătv are so ridiculously anti-Blair they will probably screen this message.

Blair has not done that badly and there are a lot of things he has done I didn't think would get done. If anyone were to care for the objective opinions of other countries' leaders many of them respect Blair.

The sad fact is the media, as always has got there hands on something, and that means it will ruin.

Maybe if we put some education into the media we may have some balanced debate. But we have the overly liberal Channel Four & ±«Óătv with their 'Big Brother' views on life. If they had their way, and had she not undone all their good work, Jade would be voted to run the country.

One further point: you all love to hate politicians so much, but then you also hate Jeremy, one of the few people with the ability and intelligence to challenge politicians on an intellectual level.

It was incredibly refreshing to watch Jeremy shoot down in flames the ideas of his producers. It shows us that there are a few people able to say what they like without having to turn to the internet to do so. Though, had he been any one but JP they might not have left the building unscathed.

I shouldn't think Jeremy will leave Newsnight, he may not like it, but I imagine he well likes his job on University Challenge. I do not reckon he can have it both ways.

  • 36.
  • At 10:29 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • Oliver Wood wrote:

The ±«Óătv are so ridiculously anti-Blair they will probably screen this message.

Blair has not done that badly and there are a lot of things he has done I didn't think would get done. If anyone were to care for the objective opinions of other countries' leaders many of them respect Blair.

The sad fact is the media, as always has got there hands on something, and that means it will ruin.

Maybe if we put some education into the media we may have some balanced debate. But we have the overly liberal Channel Four & ±«Óătv with their 'Big Brother' views on life. If they had their way, and had she not undone all their good work, Jade would be voted to run the country.

One further point: you all love to hate politicians so much, but then you also hate Jeremy, one of the few people with the ability and intelligence to challenge politicians on an intellectual level.

It was incredibly refreshing to watch Jeremy shoot down in flames the ideas of his producers. It shows us that there are a few people able to say what they like without having to turn to the internet to do so. Though, had he been any one but JP they might not have left the building unscathed.

I shouldn't think Jeremy will leave Newsnight, he may not like it, but I imagine he well likes his job on University Challenge. I do not reckon he can have it both ways.

  • 37.
  • At 11:14 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • David wrote:

From your own observations... what 'value' do you add to the economy?

  • 38.
  • At 11:16 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • Maurice - The Former UK wrote:

No 35/36

If as you say the ±«Óătv are Anti-Blair, then it is not before time!
For many years the ±«Óătv has in fact given Blair and the Labour Party the beneifit of ALL doubts.
Just as much of the media has.

If as you say the ±«Óătv has woken up to the fact Blair and Co. have been taking the ***s out of the media aswell as Joe public in general for years.
Then - GOOD and not before time!

  • 39.
  • At 11:32 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • Bill Bradbury wrote:

Having watched the first programme on the city I found it to be fascinating, and I look forward to the rest.
My only criticism is that it deserved longer on the line I would have liked to know what they were all doing staring into those screens, (shares and betting), although the manager of the bell foundry made his points well.
As a non expert on the ways of the financial market, perhaps we could have a more in depth view of what an earth was going on. Perhaps Jeremy will return to this later.
I came away with the impression that the whole of the economy is built on a pack of cards, or here you see it and now you don't, and on which I learnt I could probably place a bet!!

As to the super rich spending ÂŁ30,000 on a good time and ÂŁ2000 for a room, I always thought I lived on another planet!

  • 40.
  • At 11:33 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • David Hall wrote:

Can we cancel the rest of this series please? Tonight's report was a shambolic 'analysis' of certain aspects of Tony Blair's ten years in power. I'm sorry, it has a place on Grumpy Old Men, but not on Newsnight: "I've no idea what was going on in this world of derivatives and such like"...(but I know it is underregulated and people get away with murder here....and I told them so).

As for the concluding remarks voiced over City of London skyline by night....c'mon guys, raise the bar. This was lazeeee...

Even Newsnight used to have a discussion after a tendentious film...now, no need. It's Paxo, so it must be worthwhile! (not).

  • 41.
  • At 11:35 PM on 19 Feb 2007,
  • wrote:

How refreshing to see it told like it really is for the majority of us in the country.

The Stock Exchange was exactly the same as the Gambling House!

And how endearing to see Paxo folding his arms defensively across himself.. exactly as one might expect someone who's been stuck behind a desk interviewing people for far too long.

Go for it Jeremy! I for one look forward with relish to the rest of your reports.

'Fifi' (PM frogger)

  • 42.
  • At 12:01 AM on 20 Feb 2007,
  • Lesley Boatwright wrote:

The contrast between the decent bell foundry and the god-awful cyber-manic betting shop said it all. And what is the use of a mouthful of gold dust as the Emperor has no head? As I recall, the Emperor (in another tale) also had no clothes, though only the voice of innocence pointed this out. I thought Jeremy's piece was an excellent comment on the fact that we are losing the substance for the shadow. And why should he leave the ±«Óătv if they let him make pieces like this?

  • 43.
  • At 01:34 AM on 20 Feb 2007,
  • Richard wrote:

10 years of Blair. 10 years of disaster.

1) low interest rates are a sign of an economy in trouble. If an economy is doing well interest rates remain high. Sustaining pensions and the encouraging saving. LOw interest rates encourage borrowing to help restart an economy. Simple economic fact. Problem is that the economists these days as stats driven and have no real economic understanding. All stupid and ignorant.
2) education. Dumbed down to ridiculous levels. 50% of the population attending university. Not because we are brighter but because it should be a right. Rubbish. Result children with degrees that can't add, write, spell or basically stupid. I have seen maths 1st who can't add from OXford. HOw pathetic is that. Education in this country is a disaster of dumbed down idiots driving dumbed down subjects.
3) Human rights. THat discriminates against the majority in favour of the minority. Best hope that there is no recession or there will be a real problem. Criminals allowed to sue their victims. Children allowed to bully their teachers etc, all in the name of human rights.
4) laws. MOre laws than anything else. remember that lawyers only think in terms of laws and punishment. The government is a bunch of failed hack barristers and lawyers that have messed up the criminal justice system and brought in an American sue everyone mentality. For anything. Famous Roman once said "the day that lawyers run the Empire is the day the empire will fall" and it did.
5) Terrorism. THey need to remove everyone's freedom because a terrorist might be around. Fact they don't even know who has come into the country so how would they even know if a terrorist had come in. It is pathetically laughable. They can't stop drugs flowing into this country. Again pathetic. Yet they sit round a table with terrorists. Terrorism is rubbish.
6) Global warming. 25 years ago it was an ice age now it is global warming. It is not scientifically proven except by those paid and funded by the government to charge more tax. It is the biggest con going.
7)law and Order. Gun crime is a daily occurance in a country where to own a gun is not legal. In fact you can't even use one in a gun club. So what law and order. Yes a POlice force with its gay branch, ethnic branch and no public service branch.
8) respect. Zero and getting worse. With the government saying lets consult the 5 year olds about what they want. It is about disciple and respect and boundries. It is like asking a robber how much do you want i will borrow it for you. Idiotic and stupid.
9) trust of politicians. Zero. Blair lies, the government lies, the opposition lies, they all lie and lard their own pockets.
10) immigration. out of control. Is it suprising that violent crime is up. How can the police catch people that don't exist because they just walk in. I have travelled on the london tube and not one person on the tube was english. So do i live in England?
11) PC. I have to respect the Muslim, the Indian the african, the chinese, but they don't have to learn English we have to do everything for them, They don't have to integrate to my culture i have to to theirs. What the hell is going on. If i want to respect and live with their culture i would move to their country. If they want to come to mine then learn and respect my culture and a bare minimum learn my langauge and speak it all the time.

I have now given up because i see this as futile like this country that doesn't care that it has been destroyed by incompetent morons. That have their own celebrity reality show careers to think about.

Oh forgot. Iraq. A lie, based on a lie. Some one said in a forum could any one see the US government carrying out 9/11 itself and killing thousands of its own citzens. Answer New Orleans! Where was the government there? Do not rule it out. Remember OSam Bin Lardin was our ally in the fight to free Afganistan from the horrible Russians in the 80's.

Blair and his Scottish government will go down in history like the last Labour government of the 70's as the most corrupt, free loading, incompetent morons to have ever held office. Oh yes and they ruined the economy too. Remember we are dependent on the Chinese and Asia lending us the money to buy their goods. We don't really have any money just debt. FACT! Same in the USA.

  • 44.
  • At 02:01 AM on 20 Feb 2007,
  • wrote:

I absolutely loved Jeremy's report on Monday night - somehow I don't think he hated making the film at all! Can't wait to see the rest :-). Oh and great full length shots too!!!

  • 45.
  • At 03:25 AM on 20 Feb 2007,
  • Robert Hendry wrote:

Im a bit new to the slightly deeper side of politics (the facts) and when I read this I simply dont understand why this would have been a benefit to the nation. Was this regulation policy by design or accident?. can someone enlighten a former Sky News viewer and Sun reader.

Paxman quote
"But manufacturing, the traditional engine of growth, has declined. Not only has it declined, but there are a large amount of regulations that beset it. The British Chamber of Commerce estimates the cumulative bill from new regulations 1998 to 2006 at ÂŁ50bn."


Oh, and if anyone thinks im just thick just remember the first steps to wisdom is not knowing (or something alone those lines)

  • 46.
  • At 07:00 AM on 20 Feb 2007,
  • Raymond Cook wrote:

I have been living in Austraia for the last 27 years, I came home for three months last year...Britain is cultuarally sound, it remains as my Malaysian born wife, who has lived in Australia, commented last year one of the last bastions of civilisation..Blair has continued to enforce and control a stable democracy..it almost appears that right wing interest in the world wants to see him fall, including Bush of America,who needs it's right wing agenda to control the status quo. John Howard has Bush's support. we are sick and tired of Bush's sidekicks rolling American PR behind Howard....

  • 47.
  • At 09:09 AM on 20 Feb 2007,
  • Martin Holland wrote:

Poor Jeremy, He is certainly living up to his grumpy old man image. He is obviously an intelligent man undergoing a mid life crisis. Change your job? Buy an island and write a book. Get away from this depressing country. Do something different.
I will miss you Jeremy, just like I would miss my finger if it was removed. Especially if my finger kept poking me in the eye.
Time for a change Jeremy!

  • 48.
  • At 09:09 AM on 20 Feb 2007,
  • Neil wrote:

It would be better if the "facts" have been verifed from sources other than govermenment.

Its now widely accepted that the mythical 2.X% inflation is rubbish, its nearer 5% for most. Its easy to make it low, you just exclude the unimportant things like mortgage, fuel etc which we still have to pay.

Besides, putting the BOE in charge was just a method of divorcing responsibility and accountability for the Government.

I ask this question, if the BOE has to account to the Goverment when inflation becomes to large, who is really running the economy and who is taking credit for something they dont do?

  • 49.
  • At 09:39 AM on 20 Feb 2007,
  • Ronnie wrote:

The U.K. is the land of mega-taxation if you live in a house with a nice view you will be penalised for it, don’t forget with the new road charges that it will have a knock on effect on the price we pay for everyday things like food and clothing, this government looks on the British public as a cash cow, perpetually bleeding it to death slowly, this will turn people to revolt and it will be Blairs own fault for his corporate greed, let us not forget that if you ill treat your dog and continually beat it, then one day it may turn and bite you and let that be a lesson for you.
Rebecca will riot again, ooh that reminds me I must iron my smock.

  • 50.
  • At 10:06 AM on 20 Feb 2007,
  • Tim Leunig wrote:

Jeremy is right that manufacturing (measured as a share of GDP) has fallen, but that has been true for about 150 years now. It is a price effect: the price of manufactured goods is falling all the time - kettles for a ÂŁ5, televisions for ÂŁ50, whereas the cost of services is going up. So manufacturing appears to be disappearing when in fact we are producing more physical goods than ever before.

The figures on inflation, GDP, inequality are fair to Blair.

Dr Tim Leunig
Department of Economic History
London School of Economics

  • 51.
  • At 10:07 AM on 20 Feb 2007,
  • Maurice - The Former UK wrote:

#46 - R. Cook.
You are having a laugh.

Blair democracy, not reconcilable.
BLIAR & Labour have proved themselves to be nothing more than Constitutional Vandals.

  • 52.
  • At 10:42 AM on 20 Feb 2007,
  • jim evans wrote:

Every where you turn Tony Blairs Government is in crisis, CSA, Learning skills centres,(ref Digby jones),The Armed forces ÂŁbillions needed , Nhs, Transport tolls, dentists, missing billions "where has all the money gone, and the latest TWO aircraft carriers no skills to build them, restructure the ship biulding industry,
"ITS AS IF THE 8TH AIRFORCE, AND BOMBER COMMAND HAVE BEEN REEKING HOVOCK IN THE DEFENCES OF WHITE HALL, "IS THE GOVERNMENT STILL ALIVE"? ITS LIKE MAY THE 8TH 1945, AND THE BERLIN BUNKER "where is the leader"? has he defected "?

  • 53.
  • At 11:43 AM on 20 Feb 2007,
  • YesBut wrote:

Jeremy Paxman in his report on Blair’s legacy made a comment “ . . . it doesn’t look like that viewed from the forge”. He should have known better, he was sanding in a foundry not a forge.

For his future reference, a moulder works in a foundry, and a blacksmith in a forge.

  • 54.
  • At 01:11 PM on 20 Feb 2007,
  • Peter Laverock wrote:

OK, I am browsing your website in an idle moment but how much is '360 degree profile and on-demand downloadability' costing me, dear ±«Óătv? A television licence fee should be used to make, er, television programmes. Let blog-land look after itself.

  • 55.
  • At 02:57 PM on 20 Feb 2007,
  • Ronnie wrote:

If you want to find out any truth about what Blair and this government is up to with truth economics, then maybe take a visit to infowars.com and see what Alex Jones uncovers. All of the information that you are entitled know in a so called democracy. one very interesting film he has made is called Alex Jones - Police State III ... a very informative and factual look at what the controlled media has a habit to omit due to so called newsworthiness or time scheduling etc.
Going back to Jeremy Paxman giving us a look at that exclusive club where the mega-rich consume gold dust in cocktails, the fact that people will consume it is scary; the fact that people will waste a so called precious metal is worrying.

  • 56.
  • At 05:17 PM on 20 Feb 2007,
  • wrote:

it is apparent to me that to live in blairs briton is criminal,putting at the head of government in middlesbrough the biggest criminal of them all ray mallon,14 of the offences agreed by him,his way is to allow criminals as street wardens frightening kids,allowing the local evening gazette to advertise vulnerable children on the sides of buses and coaches,his resolve is to create a bad influence on children,as a marter,allowing police the powers to arrest anyone and ignore anyone they want,without evidence,facts,even before a court case has proven innocence and guilt,paying kids cocain to tel them what they need to know even though it was not allowed before,as operation lancet,if he was a criminal what is he now

  • 57.
  • At 05:23 PM on 20 Feb 2007,
  • wrote:

it is apparent to me that to live in blairs briton is criminal,putting at the head of government in middlesbrough the biggest criminal of them all ray mallon,14 of the offences agreed by him,his way is to allow criminals as street wardens frightening kids,allowing the local evening gazette to advertise vulnerable children on the sides of buses and coaches,his resolve is to create a bad influence on children,as a marter,allowing police the powers to arrest anyone and ignore anyone they want,without evidence,facts,even before a court case has proven innocence and guilt,paying kids cocain to tel them what they need to know even though it was not allowed before,as operation lancet,

  • 58.
  • At 07:48 PM on 20 Feb 2007,
  • wrote:

"At 09:09 AM on 20 Feb 2007, Martin Holland wrote:
Poor Jeremy, He is certainly living up to his grumpy old man image. He is obviously an intelligent man undergoing a mid life crisis."

:-o "Grumpy old man?" Sorry, but where exactly is he "grumpy" I seemed to notice him more than happy on several occasions! Old? He was born in 1950 - is that deemed to be old? Sir David Frost was born in 1939 - and he's still brilliant, which is why I watch Al-Jazeera, oh, and I watched him on Newsnight the other week. As for the "mid life crisis," where? Utter rubbish!

  • 59.
  • At 08:28 PM on 20 Feb 2007,
  • MASON wrote:

I have to say I am increasingly becoming more suspicious of the British Government and their apparent intentions, what is REALLY going on in this country. The latest debacle surrounding UK Gun culture appears to be so staged. With Tony Blair's demands to introduce new legislation (without haste,which strengthens this argument). On the surface this is normality as it is today but think about it for one second. Tony Blair wants to lower the age to 17 at which young people can receive long prison sentences for possessing a gun, he was speaking after four fatal shootings in London this month. The Media today talk about people going crazy with guns, shooting people in the streets or schools, and then immediately legislation being proposed to take guns out of circulation. People should remember that gun laws were introduced in Germany just before Hitler started filling concentration camps. For instance, if you wanted to give more power to the police, more power to the military, more power to stop and search, more power to go into your homes without permission, etc., and you did that openly without any of this other incentive-manipulation, there'd be tremendous resistance from people who say, "This is a global, fascist state!" or "This is a fascist country! You mustn't do this; we're not having it!". I've read about various mass mind control techniques, one being "problem, reaction, solution". It's a brilliant technique, very simple, and it means that not only do you avoid such opposition, you actually manipulate people who would normally oppose what you want, to see it as the only solution to the problems that have been created and demand you introduce it. Maybe i'm being a bit too suspicious but things don't add up, now that Blair has added another new anti-freedom law, i wouldn't be surprised if there are no other gun related incidents for a while. That is, until THEY wish to impose another new law.... MASON 07

  • 60.
  • At 08:50 PM on 20 Feb 2007,
  • George Dutton wrote:

On the BBc web site we have the following...

Blair's Britain.

A cash for honours puzzle.

Has gun crime touched your life?

Secret interview (The prime minister has been interviewed by the police).

I don`t know about you lot but I think it just about sums up the Blair's Britain blog.


  • 61.
  • At 10:21 PM on 20 Feb 2007,
  • Robert Hendry wrote:

I ask again if someone could enlighten me.

Jeremy Paxman Quote:
"But manufacturing, the traditional engine of growth, has declined. Not only has it declined, but there are a large amount of regulations that beset it. The British Chamber of Commerce estimates the cumulative bill from new regulations 1998 to 2006 at ÂŁ50bn."

I understand what hes saying, but what I dont understand is obviously the powers at be know the regulation costs ÂŁ50bn but usually theres a reason for such policy and someone always seems to benefit, who?. Or is this simply straight up incompetence?

If someone can educate on ths I would be grateful
Thanks.

  • 62.
  • At 10:29 AM on 22 Feb 2007,
  • George Dutton wrote:

2. At 01:43 PM on 19 Feb 2007, Dr Chris Hudson wrote:
Dear Mr Paxman

Please ask your colleagues on Daily Politics why they never answer my e-mails, which include suggestions on making Mr Blair take early retirement to Barbados"

Dr Chris Hudson

Delete Barbados insert The Hague.

  • 63.
  • At 02:36 PM on 22 Feb 2007,
  • wrote:

ray malon advertised in the gazette today that he has not finished based on his popularity with the asian community he will be forgoeing another term of four years unless someone stops him

  • 64.
  • At 08:54 PM on 22 Feb 2007,
  • MASON wrote:

Re: At 01:34 AM on 20 Feb 2007, Richard wrote:

Richard, a lot of good points. Check out 'the Secrets of the Matrix' 'live' at Brixton Academy DVD or online stream (google video). David Icke, presumed madman, actually talks a lot of sense. Well worth watching, it certainly opens up your mind. 7hrs spread over 3 parts! It's all an illusion. MASON 07

  • 65.
  • At 07:56 PM on 23 Feb 2007,
  • PF wrote:

At 08:54 PM on 22 Feb 2007, MASON wrote:

MASON, some say Blair is a 33 degree Free Mason, the highest Accolade in Free Masonery. How does he afford his ÂŁ15,000 per month mortgage on his apparent wage? Cherie must bag a nice amount but ÂŁ15K per month?!?!? Where does the the money come from? ahem... I am very fearful that a police state is getting closer by the day under Blair (the UK has an unbelievable amount of CCTV cameras). The Gov. appear to be very lenient on any alleged offence committed by the police force, just look at Sir Ian Blair!!! Are ian and tony related? same surname? same bloodline? Its so easy to dish out a good beating to an innocence human being but no action ever seems to be taken on the police no matter what they do! (Jean Charles Menezes was shot 9 times in the head from point blank range, explain?!?!?!?! 9 times, its insane!). Us common folk accept this reality, it just makes me wonder if there is an agenda? I intially disbelieved any pap surrounding the New World Order, thinking it was Hollywood stuff but things do not add up. The Media is brainwashing us into believing everything they say. Last week, about the same time as the problems at bernard matthews (bird flu), FOX News told the world that the first case of Salmonella in the US had broken out in Peanut Butter?!? Ever noticed how the US and the UK mirror each other! The Newsreader then said something along the lines of "What would actually happen if terrorists decided to terrorise the food chain? i.e. poison our food at the manufacturing process. This hasn't been proved at all so why say this? It just puts fear into the minds of the public i.e. will it actually happen?!?. The Media is making us fearful of everything, Why? No wonder the country's confidence is so low! PF

  • 66.
  • At 11:24 PM on 28 Feb 2007,
  • sagmog wrote:

John Terry's head injury was not as suggested by Jeremy Paxman, a result of the "punch up" at the end of the Carling Cup Final. Rather it was caused by an accidental boot to the head earlier in the second half of the game.

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