Rage, rage against the dying of the light

**Banquo's Ghost** · 09-06-2006, 16:18

I'm interested in the Backroom's view of the apparently growing clamour for Prime Minister Blair's resignation. To this outsider, it looks uncannily like the last days of the Thatcher regime.

Is he right to hang on? Or is he beset by Lilliputians?

Personally, I thought he made an incredible mistake when he announced he wouldn't serve the full term. His time was always going to be scarred by endless questions as is happening now.

There are many arguments for term limits, and the unseemly behaviour of the MPs as well as Mr Blair's apparent inability to name a date (which looks like desperation to hang onto power despite what he said) bolster this view.

It brought to mind the famous poem:

Originally Posted by Dylan Thomas

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

**Scurvy** · 09-06-2006, 21:44

I think its a fuss about nothing, Blair will be gone before this time next year by his own choosing, and i doubt anything short of a damaging in-party squabble will change his timetable - i suspect his not giving a date is to retain his long-term authority over the party for as long as possible, not as desperation to hang on to being prime minister...

Labour are still doing fine, and it would take a considerable effort by the Tories to make much headway, especially with a new leader coming in and able to refresh the "new labour" regime...

I think hes right to hang on until he gets the record for longest serving pm, and then it is time for him to step down, he has done a lot for labour over the last ten years, and a in-party "civil war" would do more damage to labour than Blair having a prolonged stay in office.

-sos the post is so badly structured, i was writing as i thought....