So, would today be a good day for Tony Blair's "Goodnight Vienna"?

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.. seeing as how he's probably had his best day for years yesterday, at the stormont meeting, being seen to have brokered Peace in NI.

― Mark G, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 13:10 (nineteen years ago)

He'd could go out on a higher note yet if he publicly commits seppuku.

― Noodle Vague, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 13:11 (nineteen years ago)

He's off tomorrow, anyway.

― Dom Passantino, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 13:12 (nineteen years ago)

Geir to thread to say you are incorrect, Goodnight Vienna was by Ringo Starr.

― Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 13:14 (nineteen years ago)

Make a good image though, Tony walks up to a spaceship, waves taraa and disappears in with the Klaatu by his side and takes off...

― Mark G, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 13:16 (nineteen years ago)

Well well well!

Blair to announce departure date

Mr Blair will fire starting gun on leadership contest
Tony Blair will "make an announcement" on his future as Labour leader on Thursday, Downing Street has confirmed.

― Mark G, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 16:12 (nineteen years ago)

Amazing how they can keep a story alive for a whole week. They announced last Wednesday that he'd be going to visit the Labour club in Sedgefield tomorrow.

― Madchen, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 16:20 (nineteen years ago)

I suggest Tony Blair's "Vienna", if only to allow for Joe Dolce's announcement to run for parliament.

― King Boy Pato, Thursday, 10 May 2007 03:25 (nineteen years ago)

So, today it gets the big announcement.

― Mark G, Thursday, 10 May 2007 08:28 (nineteen years ago)

.. seeing as how he's probably had his best day for years yesterday, at the stormont meeting, being seen to have brokered Peace in NI.

-- Mark G, Wednesday, May 9, 2007 4:10 PM (Yesterday)

you don't need to be notoriously cynical ilx regular enrique to find that a smidge overoptimistic...

i'm so over this story anyway, it's been dragged out for months. he should turn it into the greatest "OH SNAP" moment of all time by saying he's had second thoughts re. quitting, and what's more is personally going to pilot the first typhoon mission over tehran.

― That one guy that quit, Thursday, 10 May 2007 08:35 (nineteen years ago)

I don't follow how optimism even figures.

But anyway: Surely he was hanging on just so he could sit at that meeting? Now he has, time to go.

― Mark G, Thursday, 10 May 2007 08:37 (nineteen years ago)

OK, I have figured the optimism angle, and my response is:

I'm sure it may well be over-optimistic to expect that all will be milk and honey in NI from now on. However, if Tony can be seen to be there at it's high point, he can't be held responsible if it subsequently goes sour and he's quit before that happens.

Is what I mean.

― Mark G, Thursday, 10 May 2007 08:39 (nineteen years ago)

Radio says a guitar case was spotted being delivered to Downing St!

― Alba, Thursday, 10 May 2007 09:18 (nineteen years ago)

I suggest Tony Blair's "Vienna"

*stands on desk in office and sings in in mock Helden tenor *

"This means nothing to meeeeeeeeee..."

― Tom D., Thursday, 10 May 2007 09:23 (nineteen years ago)

I guess the remaining question is whether he will resign his seat.

― Ed, Thursday, 10 May 2007 09:44 (nineteen years ago)

My guess is he'll stay in parliament as a backbencher until the next election.

― Dom Passantino, Thursday, 10 May 2007 09:45 (nineteen years ago)

Who was the last prime minister to resign his seat when he resigned his leadership?

― Dom Passantino, Thursday, 10 May 2007 09:45 (nineteen years ago)

Wilson?

― Tom D., Thursday, 10 May 2007 09:48 (nineteen years ago)

Or Thatcher?

― Tom D., Thursday, 10 May 2007 09:49 (nineteen years ago)

Thatcher stepped down at the following election.

― Dom Passantino, Thursday, 10 May 2007 09:50 (nineteen years ago)

Wilson as well.

― Dom Passantino, Thursday, 10 May 2007 09:51 (nineteen years ago)

I don't think it's happened.

― Mark G, Thursday, 10 May 2007 09:51 (nineteen years ago)

Are you too lazy to search Wikipedia, Passantino?

Some journalist you are!

― King Boy Pato, Thursday, 10 May 2007 09:52 (nineteen years ago)

This is on the front of the Radio page.
[Removed Illegal Link]

― Ned Trifle II, Thursday, 10 May 2007 09:54 (nineteen years ago)

Piss.

― Ned Trifle II, Thursday, 10 May 2007 09:55 (nineteen years ago)

[Removed Illegal Link]

― Ned Trifle II, Thursday, 10 May 2007 09:55 (nineteen years ago)

nuts

― Ned Trifle II, Thursday, 10 May 2007 09:55 (nineteen years ago)

ah you put an i inside square brackets instead of img.

And now we are all slante.

― Mark G, Thursday, 10 May 2007 10:00 (nineteen years ago)

How can I stop it?

― Ned Trifle II, Thursday, 10 May 2007 10:17 (nineteen years ago)

like this

― Ned Trifle II, Thursday, 10 May 2007 10:18 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/includes/homepage/media/070510_blair_small.jpg

― Ned Trifle II, Thursday, 10 May 2007 10:19 (nineteen years ago)

ITV is currently following blair's car by helicopter and sending a live video signal of what blair's car looks like, driving down the road

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 10 May 2007 10:21 (nineteen years ago)

Sky had a live feed of Blair's jet taking off, shot from a helicopter. It was quite exciting. In a plane spotter kind of way.

― ledge, Thursday, 10 May 2007 10:22 (nineteen years ago)

He's just run the guantlet of well-wishers and back-slappers and hand-shakers and placard carriers (all fawning and sycophantic placards sadly).

― ledge, Thursday, 10 May 2007 10:26 (nineteen years ago)

Unfortunately nothing can ever beat Thatcher crying

― Tom D., Thursday, 10 May 2007 10:28 (nineteen years ago)

Contingency of Blair Babes assembling at Downing Street even as we speak to give him the bumps on his return.

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 10 May 2007 10:30 (nineteen years ago)

Oh god they're singing an impromptu version of "Things Can Only Get Better" in the Sedgefield Labour club.

― ledge, Thursday, 10 May 2007 10:37 (nineteen years ago)

who the fuck is that madwoman dancing around at the front?

also well done barclays, cutting 1,000 jobs eh, good day to bury bad news i guess

― lex pretend, Thursday, 10 May 2007 10:39 (nineteen years ago)

what is slante?

― Madchen, Thursday, 10 May 2007 10:48 (nineteen years ago)

Gaelic for "Get that down yer neck"

― Tom D., Thursday, 10 May 2007 10:49 (nineteen years ago)

BBC was showing mad women dancing to D:Ream in the press conference room a few minutes ago. She looked a bit happy clappy.

― Madchen, Thursday, 10 May 2007 10:49 (nineteen years ago)

"Reach For the Stars" now.

― ledge, Thursday, 10 May 2007 10:52 (nineteen years ago)

This is truly an systolic occasion.

― ledge, Thursday, 10 May 2007 10:52 (nineteen years ago)

So tonights news is going to be full of feel-good disco songs?

― Mark G, Thursday, 10 May 2007 10:57 (nineteen years ago)

that woman has been jigging around for half an hour now. scary. i think she looks borderline retarded

― lex pretend, Thursday, 10 May 2007 10:58 (nineteen years ago)

this is boring. i'm bored now.

― That one guy that quit, Thursday, 10 May 2007 11:06 (nineteen years ago)

Interest rates up to 5.5%

― Ned Trifle II, Thursday, 10 May 2007 11:11 (nineteen years ago)

Ooops

― Ned Trifle II, Thursday, 10 May 2007 11:11 (nineteen years ago)

he mentioned the olympics. cunt.

― That one guy that quit, Thursday, 10 May 2007 11:12 (nineteen years ago)

Skipping 6 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

somebody's shouting something?

― That one guy that quit, Thursday, 10 May 2007 11:17 (nineteen years ago)

i have 0 doubt that the two dancing, clapping women were ordered to do that for as long as it took tony to emerge... "i won't have this looking like a funeral!" .. perhaps they were slipped an E or two to heighten the versimilitude

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 10 May 2007 11:18 (nineteen years ago)

"Hand on heart, I did what I thought was right." Cunt.

― ledge, Thursday, 10 May 2007 11:19 (nineteen years ago)

he's no bartlet :(

― That one guy that quit, Thursday, 10 May 2007 11:19 (nineteen years ago)

deluded twat

― That one guy that quit, Thursday, 10 May 2007 11:20 (nineteen years ago)

"This is the greatest nation on earth" - vomit.

― ledge, Thursday, 10 May 2007 11:21 (nineteen years ago)

"This is the greatest Prime Minister on earth"

― Tom D., Thursday, 10 May 2007 11:22 (nineteen years ago)

Tony, you failed to save the NHS. You continued Thatcher's legacy of privatisation, over-management of public services, and presidential politics. You led us into a disasterous war on false pretences. Tony, you are an emotionless robot... and you're fired.

― ledge, Thursday, 10 May 2007 11:22 (nineteen years ago)

This is the greatest Prime Minister in that room at the moment.

TONY YOU WAS TOLD TO NEGOTIATE AND BUY THEM ITEMS DIRT CHEAP! THERE'S A SHOP TEN MINUTES WALK FROM THIS BLEEDIN' OFFICE WHERE YOU COULD HAVE BOUGHT NIGELLA SEEDS! DON'T GIMME THE OLD BULLSHIT IF YOU'D READ THE RULES YOU WOULD 'AVE COME IN LATE AND YOU'D BE THIRTY QUID AHEAD OF THE OTHER LOT AND YOU'D BE BANGIN' ABAHT RACIN' CARS RIGHT NOW!

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 10 May 2007 11:25 (nineteen years ago)

http://ilx.wh3rd.net:8080/ILX/ThreadSelectedControllerServlet?boardid=40&threadid=15599

― RJG, Thursday, 10 May 2007 11:26 (nineteen years ago)

I feel sorry for tony blair

― RJG, Thursday, 10 May 2007 11:27 (nineteen years ago)

First link worked, second doesn't

― Tom D., Thursday, 10 May 2007 11:29 (nineteen years ago)

read the second one then click on the first one

― RJG, Thursday, 10 May 2007 11:31 (nineteen years ago)

I thought we'd agreed Tony Blair was a twat and David Cameron was a cunt? Did I miss a meeting?

― Ned Trifle II, Thursday, 10 May 2007 12:14 (nineteen years ago)

"This is the greatest nation on earth" - vomit.

-- ledge, Thursday, 10 May 2007 11:21 (52 minutes ago)

Actually, I kind of agree with this, with all due respect to everyone else on earth. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else, therefore I suppose I must think it's the greatest nation on earth, musn't I? I haven't really thought this through too much though.

― Ned Trifle II, Thursday, 10 May 2007 12:18 (nineteen years ago)

Oh yeah I never got around to questioning that on the other thread. How is he not a cunt? He took us to war!

xp - well yeah I kinda like this place too, but I'm sure other folk like their countries just as much. Jingoism is ridiculous.

― ledge, Thursday, 10 May 2007 12:20 (nineteen years ago)

I think Chinese cockle pickers and their families might disagree with you and Tone there

― Tom D., Thursday, 10 May 2007 12:20 (nineteen years ago)

"The British are special - the world knows it, in our innermost thoughts we know it. This is the greatest nation on earth."

piss off you grovelling lil bastard

― blueski, Thursday, 10 May 2007 12:21 (nineteen years ago)

"AM I BOTHERED THO?"

― blueski, Thursday, 10 May 2007 12:21 (nineteen years ago)

"This country is a blessed nation. The British are special. The world knows it, in our innermost thoughts, we know it. This is the greatest nation on earth."

Strong stuff!

This is all very underwhelming though - testament to the managerial style that it doesn't *feel* enormously important, I suppose.

― Groke, Thursday, 10 May 2007 12:23 (nineteen years ago)

{i]"This country is a blessed nation. The British are special. The world knows it, in our innermost thoughts, we know it. This is the greatest nation on earth."[/i]

I wish I'd voted SNP now

― Tom D., Thursday, 10 May 2007 12:25 (nineteen years ago)

Come on it's what we're all thinking!

All together now...

"Land of Hope and Glory..."

― Ned Trifle II, Thursday, 10 May 2007 12:32 (nineteen years ago)

Ah, an English anthem.

― treefell, Thursday, 10 May 2007 12:34 (nineteen years ago)

"mother of the free..."

SHUUUTTTT UUUUUPPPP!!!!!

― Mark G, Thursday, 10 May 2007 12:39 (nineteen years ago)

"Finally, his enduring electoral success forced the Tories to embrace the consensus he had helped to forge. The prime minister takes such pride in this that one Downing Street aide says that his legacy can be summed up in two words - "David Cameron"."

― acrobat, Thursday, 10 May 2007 12:43 (nineteen years ago)

And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green
And was the holy lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen

And did the countenance divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills
And was Jerusalem builded there
Among those dark Satanic mills

Bring me my bow of burning gold
Bring me my arrows of desire
Bring me my spears o'clouds unfold
Bring me my chariot of fire

I will not cease from mental fight
Nor shall my sword sleep in hand
'Til we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land
'Til we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land

― onimo, Thursday, 10 May 2007 12:44 (nineteen years ago)

or do we prefer Vindaloo?

― onimo, Thursday, 10 May 2007 12:45 (nineteen years ago)

I must confess to a wee lump in my throat at Tony's speech. Choking back vomit will do that every time.

― onimo, Thursday, 10 May 2007 12:45 (nineteen years ago)

"Lord grant that Marshal Wade
May by thy mighty aid
Victory bring.
May he sedition hush,
And like a torrent rush,
Rebellious Scots to crush.
God save the Queen!"

― Tom D., Thursday, 10 May 2007 12:46 (nineteen years ago)

"Vote Tory Tory Tory
For election glory!"
(Lynsey de Paul, 1983)

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 10 May 2007 12:49 (nineteen years ago)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/bsp/hi/image_maps/07/1177000000/1177599653/img/blair_rating04_416gr.gif

The UK: we care more about petrol costs than bombs.

― Dom Passantino, Thursday, 10 May 2007 12:59 (nineteen years ago)

Tony Blair had an affair with Christophe Eccelston!??!?

― Tom D., Thursday, 10 May 2007 13:00 (nineteen years ago)

This is what happens when you don't empty the bins often enough!

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 10 May 2007 13:01 (nineteen years ago)

The UK: we care more about petrol costs than bombs.

The two go hand in hand.

― onimo, Thursday, 10 May 2007 13:01 (nineteen years ago)

Tomorrow('s lecture fees) belong to him.

― The Boyler, Thursday, 10 May 2007 13:03 (nineteen years ago)

The UK: we care more about petrol costs than bombs.

-- Dom Passantino, Thursday, 10 May 2007 12:59 (2 minutes ago)

This doesn't show that at all - as you well know.

― Ned Trifle II, Thursday, 10 May 2007 13:04 (nineteen years ago)

The UK: we care more about petrol costs than bombs.

The UK: we care more about petrol costs than petrol bombs. = would have been a great headline during the Troubles

― Tom D., Thursday, 10 May 2007 13:05 (nineteen years ago)

Tomorrow('s lecture fees) belong to him.

-- The Boyler, Thursday, 10 May 2007 13:03 (55 seconds ago)

I feel so sorry for the students around our way, they've nowhere to park their cars, some of them have to share a bathroom, and some even have to get a job in the summer...boo hoo hoo...

― Ned Trifle II, Thursday, 10 May 2007 13:08 (nineteen years ago)

god i forgot how much of a big deal the whole foot and mouth thing was.

― pisces, Thursday, 10 May 2007 13:29 (nineteen years ago)

i really love 'jerusalem'! monster tune.

― lex pretend, Thursday, 10 May 2007 13:43 (nineteen years ago)

'god save the queen' is a fucking dirge and a half though

― lex pretend, Thursday, 10 May 2007 13:43 (nineteen years ago)

Not as good as the Jibrovian national anthem

― Tom D., Thursday, 10 May 2007 13:48 (nineteen years ago)

It's Grim Up North should be the national anthem. played in full before every British sporting event/match.

― blueski, Thursday, 10 May 2007 13:50 (nineteen years ago)

So, who's standing against Gordon? Anyone?

― Mark G, Thursday, 10 May 2007 14:34 (nineteen years ago)

His wife?

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 10 May 2007 14:36 (nineteen years ago)

i think the fuel crisis was my favourite blair moment. he saw off them rascally truckers good and proper! and pa4dofiles was everywhere! and all them cows got burnt and no one could decide about europe or about banning fox hunting properly. ah man. innocent times.

― acrobat, Thursday, 10 May 2007 14:47 (nineteen years ago)

McDonnell and Meacher have been meeting to thrash out who's got the most nominations thus far, and one will withdraw, transfer his nominations over and get behind the other. They're due to announce later this afternoon. I'd be astonioshed if it was anyone by McDonnell who'll have most.

― The Boyler, Thursday, 10 May 2007 14:52 (nineteen years ago)

one month passes...

Hello Vienna?

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2bc60e12-1b72-11dc-bc55-000b5df10621.html

Push for Blair as new EU president

By George Parker in Brussels, John Thornhill in Paris and James Blitz in London

Published: June 15 2007 22:02 | Last updated: June 15 2007 22:02

Tony Blair, the British prime minister, could end up swapping Downing Street for a job as the first full-time European Union president, under a plan being actively touted by Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president.

Mr Sarkozy is understood to have discussed the idea with other EU leaders ahead of next week’s European summit, Mr Blair’s last major international event as prime minister.

His support for Mr Blair taking on a big European job is a remarkable sign of Anglo-French rapprochement since Mr Sarkozy replaced Jacques Chirac as president last month.

German diplomats say Mr Sarkozy put his plan to Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, while EU officials say the French president has also touted his idea around other capitals, including Madrid. But the British prime minister remains unpopular with governments in countries such as Italy and Spain, which opposed the Iraq war. Mr Blair’s failure to take Britain into the euro will also count against him.

Mr Blair’s aides admit that Mr Sarkozy and other EU leaders have suggested the idea, but Downing Street insisted that Mr Blair was standing down from frontline politics on June 27. He has denied interest in the job.

Number 10 said talks on “theoretical” jobs formed no part of sensitive negotiations on a new treaty, which aims to establish an EU president and foreign minister in 2009. The new role of president of the European Council – representing the bloc’s 27 member states – would be a permanent replacement for the six-monthly rotating presidency of the EU.

One of Mr Sarkozy’s allies said they could not confirm the president was backing Mr Blair, but expressed support for the idea: “Why not? He is qualified for it. We want a politically strong Europe. We want a president who is credible.”

The president would have few formal powers, but would give the EU strategic leadership and represent the bloc on the world stage on issues such as climate change, bilateral relations and development in conjunction with the new foreign minister.

An FT/Harris opinion poll, out on Monday, suggests Mr Blair remains a divisive figure, with 64 per cent of Germans, 60 per cent of Britons and 53 per cent of French respondents saying he would not be good for the job.

― StanM, Saturday, 16 June 2007 23:02 (eighteen years ago)

five years pass...

tutu utm

― Randy Carol (darraghmac), Sunday, 2 September 2012 13:12 (thirteen years ago)

ten years pass...

I see threads like these and think blimey ILX has been around a long time!

― Mark G, Monday, 2 January 2023 13:11 (three years ago)

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