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Blairism 25 years on: Starmer’s Labour remains ignorant of Labour history
Yes, the landslide victory produced some moderate progress at first. But what appealed as unorthodox and visionary to Labour in the 1990s — like cosying-up to Murdoch and pushing privatisation — would find few buyers today, writes KEITH FLETT
Former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair during the annual Order of the Garter Service at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. Picture date: Monday June 13, 2022.

THIS May was the 25th anniversary of Labour’s 1997 election victory. I voted Labour on that day (for the late Bernie Grant) and I doubt there were too many on the left who weren’t pleased that the Tories had suffered a huge defeat.

Of course we knew that Tony Blair, whatever his past, was not a man of the left. Indeed one could hardly miss the New Labour message. History and particularly Labour and labour history was not part of it.

Blair was the only Labour leader not to appear at the Durham Miners Gala (Starmer has appeared virtually) despite representing a nearby constituency.

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