Blair: ‘privilege’ to be elected for third term
Prime Minister Tony Blair this afternoon said it was a “tremendous honour and privilege” to be elected for a third term.
He told reporters that he had listened and learned and now had a very clear idea of what the British people expected from the Labour government in a third term.
His comments came after he returned from a meeting with the Queen in which he was asked to form the next government of Britain.
Mr Blair made the traditional trip to Buckingham Palace after Labour won 354 seats in the general election. The figure represents a vastly reduced majority, down from 167 to probably around 65 to 70 when all seats are declared.
Speaking to reporters outside No. 10 Downing Street Mr Blair said: “I have just come from Buckingham Palace where the Queen has asked me to form the new Government, which I will do.
“It is a tremendous honour and privilege to be elected for a third term. I am acutely conscious of that honour and that privilege.”
Mr Blair continued: “When I stood here first eight years ago, I was a lot younger but also a lot less experienced. Today as well as having in our minds the priorities that people want, we, I, the Government has the experience and the knowledge as well as the determination and commitment to deliver them.
“The great thing about an election is you go out and talk to people for week upon week. I have listened and I have learned and I think I have a very clear idea of what the British people now expect from this Government for a third term.”
Mr Blair said the priorities for a third term Labour government included helping first-time buyers, helping families cope with balancing work and family life, maintaining economic stability and stimulating enterprise.
On public services, the priorities included higher standards in care and education, and Mr Blair pledged to focus on delivering not just investment, but reform and change.
“I will do so with passion because I want to keep universal public services that know that the only way of keeping the consent for them is by making the changes necessary for the 21st century,” he said.
On welfare, he pledged to continue to help people off benefits and into work, and to address the “deep concern” over pensions.
The Government would also tackle immigration and asylum. The British people, Mr Blair said, “did not want immigration made a divisive issue in the course of the election campaign, but they do believe there are real problems in our immigration and asylum system and they expect us to sort them out”.
Earlier, Mr Blair travelled from his Sedgefield constituency down to London after being returned as an MP, to tell supporters at the National Portrait Gallery that “the British people wanted to return a Labour government but with a reduced majority”.
Gordon Brown, in his acceptance speech in Kirkcaldy, also promised to listen.
Mr Brown said: “I promise we will listen and we will learn so we can serve our country and communities even better in the years to come.”
There have been some high profile losses for Labour along the way.
Schools Minister Stephen Twigg, who had represented Enfield since 1997, lost to the Conservatives.
It was his victory in 1997 over Michael Portillo that provided the defining image of the election and his loss is sure to be a blow to Labour.
Junior minister Melanie Johnson also lost her seat.
