Blair gives economic record pride of place
The Prime Minister has set out how he will fight the next general election.
The general election is expected to be held in May next year, although some pundits see February as the time for a possible snap poll.
In a Christmas message to Labour party members, Tony Blair said New Labour would highlight the Conservatives’ past record on the economy under Margaret Thatcher and John Major.
The premier said members had a “duty” to flag up the days of mass unemployment, high interest rates and record repossessions, adding, “it won’t be a campaign the Tories will enjoy”.
“They are desperate to avoid talking about the economy, their economic record last time they were in Government or the threat they pose to our economic stability if they get the chance in the future,” Mr Blair wrote.
Labour, on the other hand, was working towards full employment and ending benefit dependency.
“Conservative governments often seemed to prefer to do it the other way around,” he said.
“Former Tory chancellor Norman Lamont said unemployment was a price worth paying. And, as I told the Commons this month, Michael Howard once claimed that ‘unemployment doesn’t matter’.
“Maybe that should be no surprise when you remember that the dole queue grew by one million when he was employment secretary.”
The Prime Minister also underscored the Conservatives’ hostility to the minimum wage.
“Remember when Michael Howard and the Tories went around the country saying the minimum wage would destroy jobs ? Of course, it didn’t.
“Labour has shown it is possible to both create jobs and tackle poverty pay.
“I know it sometimes doesn’t feel like it but people are now better off than they were under the Tories.”
On Monday, Labour ministers agreed to run the pre-election campaign on the slogan “Britain is working. Don’t let the Tories wreck it”.
Election chief Alan Milburn said the next election would signify a “watershed” and the “last stand of the Thatcherites”.
Meanwhile, the Conservatives accused Mr Blair of running scared after Labour said it won’t use the traditional “battle bus” to tour the country and daily press briefings in Westminster during the election campaign.
The Tories said Labour was trying to “hide” Mr Blair.
Conservative co-chairman, Dr Liam Fox, said the plans demonstrated Mr Blair was “terrified of facing proper scrutiny”.
