Just thought with a UK election on the way, I'd throw this question out at all our regular posters. What do you guys think of Tony Blair? If you are British, do you think he should win a third term? If not, how is Blair received in your country and what do you think about him?

I think Blair WILL win the next election. The problem is he has no credible opposition. He is strongly opposed from the left because he has taken his left wing party to the right. But this has left the political left disorganised. His opposition on the right is simply for the pretence of democracy - most traditional Tory voters are doing fine under New Labour so feel there is no reason to vote him out. The best hope for change is that a victorious Labour Party finally tire of being driven to the centre grond and re-affirm there political roots in socialist democracy. Is this Gordon Brown? Probably not. Sadly we are a long way from any significant change in UK Politics.
Personally I would vote for RESPECT but no candidate will be standing in my constituency. So my intention is to vote Green in the hope that a protest vote will be recognised in Government. Sadly, taking into account the staggering arrogance of the current Labour leadership, this is unlikely.
I am a fervent democrat and I simply will not give up my vote - I urge all those who feel the same to vote for someone, anyone, don't let them think we don't care.

Um... well I am an American. I don't follow UK politics much but I can tell you about America’s general view of Mr. Blair.

He is generally looked on here as a republican. This is because of his close ties to Mr. Bush. He is seen by the republicans to be a hero of the modern world. He was the only other leader of a country to stand up and say with a loud voice, "I'm not taking this anymore. I'm with you." He and the UK joined America publicly when no other leader or a country would.

Democrats have a different view of him, however. They see him to be as misguided as Mr. Bush. That they, both, mislead their people and got them into a war that seemingly has no end and a war that most Democrats and other world leaders think is completely wrong. They believe that Mr. Bush and Mr. Blair should be removed of power. (That last statement is an extreme liberal view and may not be held by all liberals.) But they weren’t able to stop Mr. Bush from being re-elected so, whatever (and since I am a Republican I’d like to add: “Nah nah nah nah nah!”).

All in all, I and a good bit of the country like Mr. Blair… and I am sure that the world would take a hit if Mr. Blair wasn’t at the head of the UK. Too bad we can’t re-elect Mr. Bush for a third or forth time here, but we have that pesky amendment number 22 which says no more than two terms per president. Yep. Lyndon Johnson ruined it for the rest of us!

Good question!

I can't stand Blair myself. I feel incredibly let down by him - not that I voted for him, but because he is, after all, meant to represent us all. His policies in education in particular have made life difficult for me (tuition fees, anyone?) and as for the Iraq war - well, let's not go there.

However, I agree with David: Blair probably will win, because there are no strong alternatives.

I too dislike Mr Blair, in fact a better adjective would be i despise Mr Blair with a great passion. But i despise Gordon Brown even more.

I am a supporter of Mr Howard and i'm intreagued to know why you are not. Mr Blair has been in power for nearly 8 years and all he has done is lie to us.

The NHS is in a worse state - MRSA killing more people than ever before with more money having been spent on it than ever.

There are more failing schools now than before Labour got in and it took a celebrity chef for the government to take notice of the growing obesity problem in children - stemming from the rubbish children are given at school.

Transport is getting better but that is largely due to the Mayor who i might Labour threw out of their party before he won and then thought they should get back on side and re hire him.

Top up fees!!!! - i'm a student - destroy BLAIR!!!!!!!

What else would you like me to attack. Oh and one other question - Lib dem supporters - how can you back a party leader who is more often drunk than sober!!????

Michael Howard talks sense. Limiting Immigration is essential if we want taxes to come down, medical science is more advanced so abortion time limits should come down - i'm pro choice but if a baby can survive at 22 weeks then our limits need to come down. I can't think of anything more right now but i'm looking forward to your responses.

one other thing Michael Howard was 5 points ahead in the polls today - tee hee

It looks like I'm a minority of 2 then. ;)

Personally, I think things have improved significantly since 1997. In education, class sizes have been cut and children are now achieving the highest SATs, GCSE and A-Level results in the history of the exams. There is more variety in schools in terms of the number of subjects offered; an increasing amount of vocational education and, most importantly, under the schools improvement programme all schools are to be partially or completely rebuilt by 2009-2010.

The health service seems to me to be another success. MRSA has actually been around for more than a decade and although it has increased markedly in the last five or so years things seem to be under control just now (see the latest government figures). There are 250,000 more doctors since 1997, 150,000 more nurses and waiting times to see the doctor are down.

Unemployment is now standing at around 800,000 - the lowest level for decades. This is a direct result of programmes such as the 'New Deal,' which my friends and family have benefited, where people who are classified as long-term unemployed are offered training, skills and job interviews to get them back into the workplace. The scheme has helped 250,000 18-21 year olds find work since 1997. We also have the lowest mortgage rates and lowest inflation in forty years - amazing when you consider the boom and bust of the Thatcher years and the negative equity that followed.

I can, however, recognise why many people are dissatisfied with Blair and emphasise with them to some extent. I, too, did not support the invasion of Iraq and feel that it was badly planned from the beginning. However, it has brought about the downfall of Saddam Hussein and the developments in the Middle East (from Palestine, Israel and Gaza to Syria in Lebanon and Libya) have been an added benefit. Previous liberal interventions in Kosovo, Sierra Leonne and Afghanistan have been well received.

On tuition fees, I actually have a different opinion to other students (but this might have more to do with personal circumstances). The legislation has allowed 2,000 students from poorer backgrounds to reach the previously untouchable height of higher education through the reintroduction of the student loan, grants and busaries and the removal of up-front fees. As one of the people who has benefited from not having to pay the fees with my parents earning less than £10,000 a year, it has helped me contemplate going to university for the first time - and becoming the first person in my family to go to university.