Priti 4 Witham

I am currently in the Gulf, a part of the world where women tend to have a more ‘traditional’ outlook in terms of their role in society. Women here support their husbands, look after the children, the home, and in general tend to keep their views to themselves. Before you all get to excited about this general description, this is my own simplified observation. And yes, there are off course many successful professional women across the Gulf states with high profile roles in society. But while discretion is much the norm here, ironically the one woman who is being talked about is Mrs Sarah Brown. And why? Well precisely because she too is a discreet and grounded women who just happens to be the wife of Britain’s new Prime Minister. As one commentator put it to me yesterday, this is a refreshing contrast to the ‘over the top, look at me’ approach of Mrs Blair. Now, not even the British public could disagree with this statement!

While I bask in temperatures of over 45 degrees, I have escaped the rain at home, but not the avalanche of media coverage surrounding Labour’s new Leader and Deputy Leader. Gordon was his natural solid self yesterday when he pushed all buttons required for his Labour Party audience. However, the real congratulations if the day has to go to Labour’s new Deputy Leader, Harriet Harman. Her political career once rose, fell and has now risen again from the ashes of the Blair era. That said, I could not help but notice a quote in one international newspaper today from a nameless Cabinet Minister about Harman’s victory (no doubt a Blairite) – ” A Harman victory would be a throwback to the past. I would sooner leave the country than watch her deputise for Gordon at Prime Minister’s Questions’.  While I suspect we will not get to see Harman deputise for Brown, it looks as if not only the Conservative Party will be giving her a hard time in her new role!

In a priceless performance today the Deputy PM brought some good humour and cheer to the House of Commons during what I thought was his last Deputy PM Question Time. As Prescott, the butt of many jokes and media torment stands down from his role, lets all remind ourselves of his contribution to British political life.…..

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/flash/0,,1969697,00.html

Not since the days of Margaret Thatcher’s Premiership has the handbag been the subject of some form of political discussion. Which is why I’m amused (as a handbag lover myself) by the war of words that has broken out between Labour Deputy Leadership contenders Hazel Blears and Harriet Harman over what is considered to be an acceptable cost of a handbag. Blears says she’s ‘typically aspirational’ in her choices, while Harman refers to the price of some handbags to highlight that Britain has become as divided society. Take it from me, as someone who works hard and chooses to spend my hard earned cash on all sorts of goods including handbags, politicians especially Labour one’s who have been responsible for taking away much of our earnings in tax, should stay well and truly clear of passing judgement on how people choose to spend their money.

Watching this evening’s news bulletin, there is a real sense of the changing of the political guard. Clips of Bush in the White House Rose Garden fondly talking about Tony Blair and their special relationship, followed by the scenes from Brown’s coronation press conference as Labour leader this afternoon. That said, I’m not sure if Brown’s ‘I will strive to earn your trust’ line, is a break with the past. Blair made more than similar noises when he became Labour’s leader and looked how that ended.  With six weeks to go before Brown finally becomes Prime Minister and with Tony Blair jet setting the globe on his farewell tour, the Government should be getting on with the business of governing the country. We need an end to this ludicrous transition situation which will result in the country being directionless and in limbo. Blair should get on with it and just go.

So Prime Minister elect Gordon Brown wants to build five new eco-towns – no doubt part of his 5 year plan to bring ‘aspiration to all’ having failed to bring ‘opportunity to all’ over the last ten years. Nice idea Gordon, but hardly the blue sky thinking the country awaits from a future Prime Minister. Clearly Gordon has been looking back to the post war era for inspiration which was  when socialist governments of the day began their new town building boom.  Also note the lack of mention of the costs associated with such a project. Perhaps the temptation to grab a headline or two off the back of this idea was just too much for him. Style or substance Gordon – which will it be?!

So we, the British people, will not look back on Tony Blair and love him: he has been in power too long for that. We, even his opponents, will not hate him: his attributes have always repelled that. But we will, on all sides, look back and ask “What did he really believe in doing? And when was he going to get round to it? – Rt Hon William Hague

The great Blair political conjuring trick is over. The man who swore that he could pump money into Britain’s public services without raising taxes, create opportunity for all, be ‘purer than purer’, revolutionise the NHS and be ‘tough on crime and the causes crime’, has finally left office. After all the money, false promises and now disillusionment the gap between Blair’s rhetoric and delivery was far too great.  And yet according to a poll in tomorrow’s Sunday Times 49% of the public think that Mr Blair had been a good Prime Minister. Judging by the poll, Gordon Brown has his work cut out!