Would Prime Minister Blair be a radical?
IN POLITICS, one man's hope is another man's fear. So now with Labour: the hope that spurs on many members of Tony Blair's shadow cabinet as they mount the final drive for election victory between now and May 1st is that a Blair-led government will be more progressive and radical than their leader in opposition has dared to say. No doubt, a similar conviction will make some “middle England” voters hesitate before delivering their vote to Mr Blair. They fear that, in office, Labour will be more left-wing than he has led them to expect. Hence John Major's claim in his first campaign speech: “you can only be sure with the Conservatives”.
This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “Would Prime Minister Blair be a radical?”
From the March 22nd 1997 edition
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