Today I could have assassinated Tony Blair...

[Guiscard]

Today I met Tony, Cheri and John Prescott. Incidentally, Vera Duckworth from Corrie was there too... Indeed I did. In the Queens Hotel in Leeds. True story

My Auntie had planned a surprise trip for her partner's birthday and they messed up and sent the letter by accident so the surprise was scuppered. She complained and they upgraded her to the Lord Mayor's Suite. Dead posh. They arrive today and there are police, dog teams and security everywhere.

Turns out they've had a mix-up and the PM has got her room! She kicked up a bit of a fuss (my auntie is like that) and got some extra nights free, but it wasn't like they could say 'Tone... err... there's been a mix-up... I'm afraid your in the junior suite tonight...'

They were downgraded to one along the corridor and tomorrow they'll move into the Lord Mayors Suite. We went down to see them today and sat in the lobby as Tony, Cheri and Prezza arrived. The PM gave us a little wave and said hi. Didn't say anything to him though. One of the staff let slip who it was, and we knew for a good two hours before he arrived. I could quite easily have gone and got some eggs... or a gun! We were never searched or metal-detected or anything!

Was trying to get her to sell her story to the Sun: BLAIR SPOILS BIRTHDAY BASH! or something.

[btownmeggy]

BLAIR SPOILS BIRTHDAY BASH!

Ha!

[Guiscard]

Don't get me wrong, I like the chap. Was about the best reason not to be allowed in a hotel room to be honest.

[Serbia]

Dude, if you were an American, you'd be subject to investigation by the FBI for that type of comment.

[Guiscard]

Lucky I'm British!

I didn't want to , was just interesting what security was actually in place. There were a hell of a lot of security guards, so I'm sure anyone would have been jumped on, and they knew why we were there and that my Auntie was a guest... I was really pleased to be honest. Made my day.

Wished I'd tried to ask him something purposeful though... Not just smiled and benignly waved.

[Stopper]

Wished I'd tried to ask him something purposeful though... Not just smiled and benignly waved.

That's OK. I and my university Labour club met Tony Blair in 1996, before he was elected. Because of security, we were only told the night before, and had to make our way to Trimdon village (in Durham), to the Labour party meeting. We were all going to subject him to hard questioning. In the event, I corpsed completely, and one of our colleagues took a grand mal epileptic fit.

So, next time I make a comment about Tory Blair, you can remind me of this story.

[Guiscard]

Its a shame I'm not doing any politics research at the moment. A direct quote from the PM could be a winner in an essay!

[Stopper]

What about Vera Duckworth, though? Does she talk like that in real life?

[Guiscard]

Didn't hear her to be honest.

Today i mainly saw celebs walk accross the lobby and get in lifts.

[Stopper]

Oh. Well, you know, you might not be able to dine out on that, if you know what I mean. Nobody ever cared when I met Tony Blair. Personally, I'd swap Vera Duckworth for Tony Blair in your story - that'll get more attention.

[flashleg8]

Today I met Tony, Cheri and John Prescott. Incidentally, Vera Duckworth from Corrie was there too... Indeed I did. In the Queens Hotel in Leeds. True story
junior suite tonight...'

.....

I could quite easily have gone and got some eggs... or a gun! We were never searched or metal-detected or anything!

Just as well you didn't, he might have lamped you one!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/date ... 098929.stm

[AAFitz]

Today I met Tony, Cheri and John Prescott. Incidentally, Vera Duckworth from Corrie was there too... Indeed I did. In the Queens Hotel in Leeds. True story

My Auntie had planned a surprise trip for her partner's birthday and they messed up and sent the letter by accident so the surprise was scuppered. She complained and they upgraded her to the Lord Mayor's Suite. Dead posh. They arrive today and there are police, dog teams and security everywhere.

Turns out they've had a mix-up and the PM has got her room! She kicked up a bit of a fuss (my auntie is like that) and got some extra nights free, but it wasn't like they could say 'Tone... err... there's been a mix-up... I'm afraid your in the junior suite tonight...'

They were downgraded to one along the corridor and tomorrow they'll move into the Lord Mayors Suite. We went down to see them today and sat in the lobby as Tony, Cheri and Prezza arrived. The PM gave us a little wave and said hi. Didn't say anything to him though. One of the staff let slip who it was, and we knew for a good two hours before he arrived. I could quite easily have gone and got some eggs... or a gun! We were never searched or metal-detected or anything!

Was trying to get her to sell her story to the Sun: BLAIR SPOILS BIRTHDAY BASH! or something.

they may have acted differently had they read some of your posts in CC

And they would easily recognize you from your avatar, its a very distinctive look...

[Guiscard]

I doubt it. I'm very much pro-Blair. I think he's done a good job over-all. I don't think he had too much choice going into Iraq. The 'special relationship' was created by Thatcher... I'm not keen on some of his politics, and I'd certainly prefer a more left-wing government but he's the best of a bad bunch. I'll be voting labour next election.

[flashleg8]

I doubt it. I'm very much pro-Blair. I think he's done a good job over-all. I don't think he had too much choice going into Iraq. The 'special relationship' was created by Thatcher... I'm not keen on some of his politics, and I'd certainly prefer a more left-wing government but he's the best of a bad bunch. I'll be voting labour next election.

He introduced the minimum wage which I firmly believe in. He’s made steps to taking households out of poverty and we have record employment levels. I'm iffy on the PFI but gave him the benefit of the doubt. I agree with the Bank of England setting interest rates (but I think that was a Tory recommendation?). I like the effort made to keep the NHS (although there has been chronic mismanagement). I'm just firmly disappointed on the shift Labour has taken to the right. With the massive majorities this government has had they really had the power to put in some radical lasting changes, I think they missed the boat on a lot of reforms.
I will never forgive Tony for the Iraq war. I absolutely agree with you that we didn't have too much choice in the matter, the thing that really annoys me is the blatant lies that were sold to us in the days leading up to the war. If he had stood up and been truthful and said something to the effect of "The US want to go to war with Iraq, we either join them as allies are expected to whether this is right or wrong, or we side with Europe and stay out of the war - loosing Americas good will". As it was Tony tried to play a middleman between the states and Europe by getting the UN involved. This failed miserably and we have drastically worsened relations with Europe (France/Germany in particular). The fact that he was prepared to lie to us about this is unacceptable in my book and I will never vote for Labour again till he is gone - and even then they will have to convince me to return.
If it wasn’t for the Iraq war I would have said he was one of the better prime ministers we’ve had for a long time, though I deeply regret the fact John Smith died. I’m certain he would have been elected ‘97 (anyone would have after the Tory years) though maybe not with as big a majority. New Labour has lost all its traditional socialist ideals – the trade unions are crippled (I can’t believe the amount of industrial action we have had over the last 10 years in the public sector - this is supposed to be a Labour government but the firemen have to go on strike?) and we have seen the gap between rich and poor actually increase compared to the Torys years. Tony talks the talk about the Middle East and Africa, and I don’t mind saying he had me fooled for a long time – but what has he really done about it? Take away his sound-bites and what do you have left? People are still starving in Africa and we are no closer to ending the oppression in Palestine.