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Rod McPhee: Blair's our man
FEW of his continental counterparts may be keen on Tony Blair gaining the Euro-Presidency but more worrying than that has been an apparent disdain for the idea on this side of the Channel.
Whatever is decided in Brussels and beyond, didn't we ought to champion one of our most successful British politicians of our age? Let's put aside for one moment party divisions and consider the benefits.
After all, if we were to select any other home-grown statesman for the post who would we pick, eh? Who else has the kahunas or the charisma? Who else has the profile and reputation to be taken seriously on a global stage?
The only obvious choice after Blair would be John Major. Can you imagine him kicking some international ass in a crisis? – the terror when he arrived in Beijing, the cowering US officials as those Hush Puppies stomped across the White House lawn.
Really, Blair is the only candidate here.
For a start he's a winner. Why do we have a habit of selecting political dead ducks from the UK – like Chris Patten as Governor of Hong Kong – to take up important posts abroad?
Such appointments should be a source intense pride not toe-curling embarrassment.
Even though Blair was disliked by many in Europe for his stance in the Iraq War, even his opponents knew he had guts and vision. They knew he wasn't going to swing, as previous British leaders had, from the extremities of Thatcher to the directionless wavering of the aforementioned Major.
He is the perfect mean between American ally and dedicated Europhile and one of the rare exceptions to the rule that all politicial careers end in failure.
Unlike countless other politicians Blair quit domestic politics while he was ahead. Only one other post-war Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, departed without losing an election or being forced out of office in disgrace.
As much as it must pain them to do so, I believe every politician of every persuasion should rally behind him because in the new super European Union I'd much rather have a Brit at the helm than anyone else. Wouldn't you?
Sure, the Tories are always going to hate the idea, but there are more leaders waiting in the left wing to steer us onto an even more federal course. They should bear that in mind.
Personally I'd rather have a huge European block vying with the world's superpowers and I'd rather have someone with a bit of gravitas representing them – and right now I can't think of anyone better than Blair.
Increased competition is good money sense
WITH the sell-off of parts of Northern Rock and other sectors of the banking service comes the prospect of more diversity on our high streets – it's long overdue.
For too long a handful of big names have dominated the financial sector leaving the rest of us to make do with less and less choice about where we put our money and how we can best use it.
So the idea of companies like Virgin and Tesco moving more from internet and phone banking into the mainstream is great news and will, hopefully, only increase competition.
I think the arrogance and resting of laurels which took place in the banking sector throughout the Noughties was a massive contributory factor to the current recession.
Maybe, just maybe, the prospect of increased competition might even force the banks we bailed out to finally deliver on their promise to start lending again.
We're shock addicts
WHEN will we stop being so sensationalised by the 'revelation' that people, particularly famous people, take drugs?
From McCartney to Winehouse, big names have always indulged to one extent or another and yet when the likes of Andre Agassi reveal they've dabbled we let loose this mock shock. It's bizarre.
When will we all just accept the fact that lots and lots of people indulge and while it isn't right or legal, it doesn't mean the world is descending into an anarchic pit of hedonism on a par with the last days of Rome?
The surprise stems, partly, from the fact that we can't believe that successful people can maintain a habit and a successful career.
So when we learn that the likes of angelic Katherine Jenkins has done drugs in the past it doesn't quite compute, it doesn't fit what we believe to be the typical image of a down-and-out druggie indulging in a squat or a basement club.
But rather than have to explain the apparent discrepancy we simply blank it out with blind horror. Bizarre.
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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