Blair upbeat ahead of poll
The Prime Minister has given an upbeat assessment of his leadership qualities and is eager to take the nation to the polls.
Tony Blair told The Observer on Sunday he was “up for it” ahead of the poll but acknowledged his personal standing had become “an issue” in the election campaign.
Mr Blair has pledged to serve a third term of office if elected but not a fourth.
In the interview, he said he still felt he was an electoral asset for Labour and would step down if he thought otherwise.
But question of his “contribution” to British politics was a judgement for others, he said.
In the extended interview, Mr Blair offered his thoughts on Britain’s compensation culture, which he claimed, was stifling professionals from carrying out their duties given the fear of litigation.
He also warned of the ‘abuse’ of legal aid in cases made against public servants.
“I was quite shocked to be told by people who were running a nursery that they were worried about letting the kids out into the playground when it was wet in case one of them slipped and fell and they ended up having a legal case [against them]. We have got to look at a way of getting people protection on that,” he said.
On questions of risk in everyday life, Mr Blair said Britons were fussing unnecessarily over an array of issues such from food safety to mobile phones.
“We are in danger of, depending on whatever is the media campaign of the day, ending up spending hundreds – sometimes millions – of pounds meeting quite a small risk when that money would be better used in other ways,” he said.
“I am not saying there isn’t an issue about the mobile phone business, but to read some of the media you would think you might as well chuck your mobile phone out of the window now.”
On the question of his leadership, Mr Blair said: “I am an issue, I always will be.
“Whoever is the Prime Minister will be. You have got to have the strength to go out and show not just what we have been able as a team to achieve in the last eight years, but what you can do for the future.
“If you are afraid to take criticism, you should go and do another job.”
The general election is expected on May 5.
