Crisis, what Crisis? Those were the words of former British Prime Minister James Callaghan months before he was driven from office by the voters in 1979. “Crisis, what crisis?” better not be the question current British Prime Minister Tony Blair is asking himself at the moment.
The predicament he finds himself in is real, even if it has elements of melodrama that are more appropriate to a political thriller by John LeCarre. Blair’s approval ratings are in free fall. But this is more than just a crisis of political popularity. This fight over the reasons for going to War with Iraq, is threatening to neuter a globally popular politician and undermine the diplomatic blood pact between the U.S. and Britain.
Guests:
Clive Crook, Deputy Editor of The Economist
Lord Tom McNally, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords and former Labour MP
Peter Kellner, chairman of British public opinion polling firm Yougov.