jasper65 6 Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 1. Blair's rural legacy Tony Blair will leave office on 27th June. Now that this particular chapter is drawing to a close it is worth reflecting that not only has Mr Blair presided over a decade of neglect of the countryside; his rural legacy will be the Hunting Act: the most ridiculous and derided law of modern times. For his Deputy, John Prescott, the legacy is simply one of contempt. It is actually with sadness that I can find almost nothing positive to recall by way of Blair's achievements for rural people, apart from perhaps his appointment of the ever-sensible Jeff Rooker and a glimmer of hope offered by David Miliband at DEFRA. The Countryside Alliance was created ten years ago in response to fears that the new Labour Government was hostile to, or ignorant of, many rural concerns. The role of the Alliance has proved all too necessary. From the disastrous handling of the Foot and Mouth outbreak to the disgraceful fiasco of the Rural Payments Agency, Blair's decade has been marked from first to last by chaos in the countryside. But it was the appointment of Margaret Beckett and Alun Michael to DEFRA that showed the true extent of Blair's misunderstanding of rural issues. The problems and frustrations faced by rural communities were amplified by the appointment of urban-minded ministers who were drafted in to a Department that has failed to prove itself fit for purpose. Changing the name of MAFF to DEFRA in 2001 was a case of changing the plaques on the door of the London-based HQ - the remorselessly metropolitan outlook remained the same. In the end the only rural policy that Mr Blair's Government will be remembered for is the pointless and derided Hunting Act, described by his mentor, Roy Jenkins, as 'the most illiberal act of the last century'. It is shameful that Mr Blair allowed 700 hours of Parliamentary time to be wasted on a pointless law, which has failed at every level, when the countryside deserved so much more. In 1997 many people thought that Blair was a fresh hope but that hunting was on borrowed time. What a difference a decade makes. Ten years on the hunting community remains intact, and repeal a real possibility. Meanwhile, Tony Blair will be remembered for creating tension, division and unhappiness in the countryside. The illiberal, unjust and vindictive Hunting Act will be his rural legacy. Simon Hart Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cragman 2,843 Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 (edited) Very well put by Simon Hart. Just watching the television at the moment and everyone's falling over themselves to pat B-liar on the back, but, as is normal in this country, after a day or two reality will hit home and once we start to look at his legacy, the shambles he's created will be highlighted. He's a tosser amongst tossers. Edited May 10, 2007 by cragman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jasper65 6 Posted May 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 I can't beleive how they keep Big him up on the news!! the guy has dragged this country through the gutter, Hammered the NHS, opened the doors to any Imigrants that want to come over here and brought in more laws than any other Govenment in history! its about time the people in the UK woke up and smelt the coffee...... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
higgins 75 Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 I can't beleive how they keep Big him up on the news!! the guy has dragged this country through the gutter, Hammered the NHS, opened the doors to any Imigrants that want to come over here and brought in more laws than any other Govenment in history! its about time the people in the UK woke up and smelt the coffee...... B-liar only believes he is 'Doing the right THING' whatever B-liar thinks is the right 'THING' must be in his vanity and we all know what vanity is!He has been sucked into creating a mess of everything, because he HAS TO BE SEEN DOING THE RIGHT THING,by others,the 'others' he looks up to,the same can be said of all politicians,once they are in power,they must behave in a certain way,under certain influences, THATS POLITICS FOR YOU,it does not matter what the rest of us think! Higgins. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chillitt 0 Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 someone just posted this on another forum, so I stole it! If we could learn to look instead of gawking, We'd see the horror in the heart of farce. If only we could act instead of talking, We wouldn't always end up on our arse. This was the thing that nearly had us mastered; Don't yet rejoice in his defeat, you men! Although the world stood up and stopped the b @stard The bitch that bore him is in heat again. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.