Blair On Brexit
I think its fair to say that within the UK Tony Blair has become a somewhat reviled character. Many of the supporters would voted for him in the elections he won have since abandoned him and the centralist politics of new labor have certainly been abandon firstly in name of austerity and now in the name of Brexit.
I personally found the New Labour third way concerning due to clear failure to represent the core labour vote throughout its tenure, the sneaky craftiness of the working tax credits redistribution project, the introduction of tuition fees and of course the war in Iraq.
However rational argument does not depend on the individual bur rather the quality of the argument as all people are flawed.
The best of men are but men at best… (J. Flavel The Method of Grace (1681))
However his recent speech (Full text) at Open Britain (Feb 2017) perhaps hints towards the formation of a true resistance towards Brexit and the quality of discourse missing throughout the referendum.
For this I am willing to consider the quality of the argument. I have blogged regarding my support for the EU many times and continue to hold that opinion. I am also of the opinion that the EU Referendum represents a point in time and that we should all feel free to continue to campaign in support of and in opposition of this issue like all others.
In fact my main complaint with the campaigning around the EU Referendum was the lack of positive pro European messaging. The project fear approach, successful in the Scottish Independence vote, offered nothing in response to the wild, unattainable promises of hope that the leave campaign offered. To this end I feel there is still a case to made and test by the public and perhaps such an opportunity will present it self soon. A case for greater European integration, greater unity in Europe and a full participation by the UK in the European project.
Blair conclude his presentation with a call to action,
“This is not the time for retreat, indifference or despair; but the time to rise up in defence of what we believe – calmly, patiently, winning the argument by the force of argument; but without fear and with the conviction we act in the true interests of Britain.”