(Untitled)

[a_claire]

Can someone explain to me why Tony Blair resigned instead of waiting for the next election? I don't think I paid close enough attention to the part about British political structures in my W.Eur. politics class. Did Margaret Thatcher resign or was she just not elected again?

Comments

[maeveywavey13]

I feel like it is customary to resign short of the next election... I think I heard that a while ago when people were discussing whether he was going to do it or not.

[anonymous]

Thatcher was ousted within her own party... so that's not really a good example. Major was kicked out after his ill-timed elections. It's just customary to help out the next candidate within your party by letting him/her run as an incumbent.

[elleestelle]

Brown also might have more of a chance to beat Cameron and the conservatives than Blair would (he is very unpopular in Britain right now.) So not only is it customary, but it is a good strategy. Poor Blair, he could have been great, but too many things got in the way.

[elleestelle]

like that whole iraq war thing.

[elleestelle]

Naw, I was thinking a few poor tie choices.