The Long Farewell

Tony Blair's speech to the conference yesterday was his "farewell" not to the country… that really would be a cause for celebration. Unfortunately, it was only the farewell to the Labour Party.

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Our "Tone" still has another nine months or so in office, more than sufficient to complete the destruction of our nation that started with his accession in May 1997.

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Needless to say, Blair's speech was greeted with "euphoria" among the Labour faithful. The press always ready with the empty cliché – write that his will be a tough act to follow, which is undoubtedly true. When most of the nation is already wrecked, it will be exceedingly difficult to do as much damage as this man has done, although Gordon Brown – if it is he that follows – will undoubtedly try his best.

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Possibly though, there is something more depressing. When we finally do get rid of Blair, his successor may be so awful that he makes David Cameroon look attractive. That is probably the only thing that would get him elected and the thought of that Gordon Brown's vacuous face leering from the television, being addressed as "Prime Minister", is something many of us do not even want to begin contemplating.

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Tony Blair – who's name coincidentally and appropriately shares initials with a malignant disease which his government has singularly failed to check – will undoutidly be written up as a great statesman.

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It will take several generations before historians are able to write a more accurate account of Blair's 'reign', recording just how damaging this man has been - but the truth usually comes out in the end. That, at least, is of some comfort.

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P.S.

Apparantly Tony Blair in his speech described Gordon Brown as a "Great Servant of the State". Those of you who know your history of the Conservative Party will be aware that this is exactly how Harold Macmillan described RAB Butler - and it wasn't meant as a compliment. Of course, Rab Butler never got to be Prime Minister. Well now, Cherie looked particularly pleased at that point.