Prompt Cast
Declining Reputation of Tony Blair and the Legacy of British Prime Ministers
TLDR Tony Blair's reputation has significantly declined since leaving office, with people often confronting him about the Iraq War and accusing him of being a fraud. The hosts discuss the results of a recent national poll on the best prime minister, with Churchill and Thatcher being the top choices, and note the difference between public opinion and their listeners' opinions.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
The hosts discuss the results of a prime ministerial world cup tournament and reflect on the selection of prime ministers included in the competition.
04:35
The hosts discuss the results of a recent national poll on the best prime minister, with Churchill and Thatcher being the top choices, and note the difference between public opinion and their listeners' opinions.
08:42
Tony Blair's reputation has significantly declined since leaving office, with people often confronting him about the Iraq War and accusing him of being a fraud.
12:17
Tony Blair's reputation has significantly declined since leaving office, with people often confronting him about the Iraq War and accusing him of being a fraud.
16:06
Pit the elder was a key figure in Britain's success in the Seven Years War and was known for his quote about saving the country, while Pit the younger was a colossus who fought against corruption, inspired Britain to fight against France, and was a committed abolitionist.
20:10
Clement Attlee wins by a large margin against Lord Liverpool, who is relatively unknown, while Margaret Thatcher loses to Herbert Henry Asquith.
24:34
Margaret Thatcher's divisiveness and the perception of her as a woman who closed down a particular masculine way of life adds to the charge and lingering divisiveness surrounding her, while Theresa May is likely to be a footnote in history due to her lack of defining accomplishments.
28:50
Robert Peel is remembered for founding the office of prime minister and establishing stability in Britain, despite being regarded as a crook, and should be ranked highly among British prime ministers.
32:56
Harold Wilson, despite being seen as too middle-brow by some of his Labour colleagues, endeared himself to ordinary voters by emphasizing his own ordinariness and making a virtue of it, which made him a great model for the Labour Party.
36:44
Harold Wilson's ministers believed he had dementia while in office, and there were suspicions that agents within MI5 were bugging him, leading to a sense that MI5 was out of control.
Categories:
History
