The Sun to back Blair

[AmericanErrorist]

Tony Blair will receive a major boost tomorrow when the Sun endorses Labour for the general election on 5 May, citing the prime minister's bravery over the Iraq war.

Labour strategists, who regarded the Sun's endorsement in 1997 as one of the key moments of the campaign, will sigh with relief that Rupert Murdoch has not consummated his flirtation with Michael Howard. No Tory leader since Margaret Thatcher has been wooed in the same way as Mr Howard, who was invited to address the News Corporation annual jamboree in Cancun, Mexico.

The decision by the Sun editor, Rebekah Wade, after close consultation with her Australian born boss, will come as little surprise to Labour and the Conservatives. Murdoch is always careful to back winners and he has regularly lavished praise on the prime minister for standing firm during the Iraq war.

The move by the Sun, which comes mid-way through the election campaign, will add to a growing sense that the Tories are struggling. The paper has consistently been in tune with the national mood, not least after it famously asked the readers to turn out the lights if Neil Kinnock won in 1992.

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/election/story/0,15803,1464381,00.html?gusrc=rss

If you stop at the Sun website, you will find they have erected a chimney to inform visitors who they'll endorse. Probably offensive.

[Sannum]

1. Since when is the Sun NOT offensive?

And I don't mean the little inset with the nekkid pictures...

[Anarcho-Socialist]

2. I don't think The Sun's backing would be any good

It's an empty endorsement. They'll continue to criticise Labour's domestic policies whilst praising Tory policies. The only reason why The Sun is not backing Howard is because they think he's going to lose, and they don't want to be seen backing "a loser".

[LSdemocrat]

6. Exactly, no principle involved except not endorsing losers

[tjwmason]

9. Plus Howard hasn't yet gone to suck Murdoch's arse

That's what finally turned them Labour.

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. God damn, Blair was brave, eh?

'Forward' he cried,
from the rear,
and the front rank died

[mr blur]

4. Dies it really matter?

Just Murdoch wanting to be on the "winning" side. Won't stop his worlwide media outlets churcning out right wing crap, will it?

[fedsron2us]

5. Another reason why I will not be voting Labour

The fact that Murdoch is perfectly comfortable with Tony Blair as PM says all you need to know about this government. The right have infiltrated and taken over the Labour party lock, stock and barrel. Those old Militant agitators from the 1980's must be impressed at how others succeeded so well where they failed. The British peoples choice at this election appears to be blue painted Tories or red painted Tories.

[non sociopath skin]

7. Fraid So. That's why I'm reluctantly voting Red Tory.

The Skin

[Briar]

8. So what did Bliar promise Murdoch

to get this endorsement?

[T_i_B]

10. I am now about to hold my nose

and post the Sun's story on the subject. Make of this what you will.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,31-2005181690,00.html

It’s Tony Blair’s final election and he deserves ONE LAST CHANCE to fulfil the great promises he keeps making, such as choice in schools and health care, tougher justice for criminals and proper control of illegal immigration.

Michael Howard has revived his party and proved himself to be a true fighter.

But he has failed to spell out any radical vision for a better Britain.

His front bench are a bloodless bunch, and their plans for a Tory Britain are equally anaemic.

They are better than Labour at the edges on social policy but their promises of smaller government carry little conviction.

[D-Notice]

11. I wonder how many people

(if any) will actually switch over to Labour thanks to this?

From Football365:

...But more pertinently is the question of whether, despite The Sun's self-proclaimed self-importance, the Sun readers will notice. Studies have previously found that in 1992, when the paper backed the Tories and subsequently announced 'It's The Sun Wot Won It', a lower percentage of Sun readers voted Conservative than compared to the national average.

Is this part of Rupert's devious plan to get Howard elected? ;-)

[Pert_UK]

12. I LOVE the idea of making announcements by chimney......

Hilarious!

I think I might follow the Vatican myself.......

"What do you want for dinner tonight, darling?"

"Well, if you see white smoke coming out of my chimney I'd like halibut, and if it's brown smoke then steak...."

:evilgrin: