Blair : "I feel liberated" : MPs "Go quickly"

[JoFerret]

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=568405

Blair: 'I feel liberated.' MPs urge: 'Go quickly'
Strategy backfires with calls for early exit. PM may be forced out 'within two years'
By Andy McSmith and Francis Elliott
03 October 2004

Tony Blair is facing mounting pressure from Labour MPs to depart much sooner than the five-year deadline he set himself last week.

As he emerged from successful hospital treatment for a minor heart condition, the Prime Minister told friends he was feeling "liberated" after a week in which he half apologised for faulty intelligence that sent the UK to war in Iraq, and announced his intention to stand down in five years.

Mr Blair believes he has given himself time to fight for public service reforms and other domestic policies, free from suspicion that he wants to cling to power indefinitely.

But even old cabinet allies were warning that he would have to leave sooner than he would like, to avoid putative successors engaging in a power struggle up until the moment the next but one general election is called.

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[clydefrand]

1. Who thinks Bush will ever apologize for using

faulty intelligence? Ha! you say?? Never! Right!

[JoFerret]

2. Blair hardly did

However - if he were to just step down ahead of the election? - then fine. Apology accepted.

[Minstrel Boy]

3. If he feels "liberated,"

does this mean he died on the operating table?

Or is he using "liberated" in the old, pre-Iraq invasion sense?

[Eye and Monkey]

5. It was just the anasthesia & post-op Valium wearing off.

He had a dish towel wrapped around his head, and he was dancing in the streets and throwing flowers. He thought Jack Straw was Rummie.

[TacticalPeek]

4. stand down Tony, stand down please, stand down To-ny

i said i see no joy
i see only sorrow
i see no chance of your bright new tomorrow
so stand down Tony
stand down please
stand down down down down down

(apologies to the English Beat)
http://www.musicsonglyrics.com/E/theenglishbeatlyrics/theenglishbeatstanddownmargaretlyrics.htm



(edit: correct the linked lyric)