Just watched Tony Blairs monthly presentation on TV.
He has lost a lot of ground with the "trust" word that he used so frequently a year or so ago.
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Blair pledges further public services reforms
By Jean Eaglesham, Political Correspondent
Published: July 30 2003 12:59 | Last Updated: July 30 2003 12:59
Tony Blair insisted on Wednesday that his appetite for leading Britain was "undiminished," as he stressed his determination to focus on further public services reforms. The prime minister also emphasised his continued belief that the UK's rationale for the war on Iraq would be justified by the eventual discovery of evidence of weapons of mass destruction.
At his monthly press conference, Mr Blair was questioned on recent comments suggesting he intended to serve for a full third term of office, rather than hand over power to Gordon Brown, the chancellor. "There is a big job of work still to do and my appetite for doing it is undiminished but who the country elects is ultimately a matter for the country," he said.
Mr Blair consistently refused to be drawn on questions about the death of David Kelly, the weapons inspector who was the source for BBC stories on Iraq dossiers. He insisted that it was a matter for Lord Hutton's inquiry.
But the prime minister signalled his determination not to be distracted by the political row over the Kelly affair, saying the electorate would judge the government on its record on the economy and on schools, hospitals and crime. He stressed the progress made so far towards the government's public services targets. "There is an enormous amount still to do but those achievements are real and I believe will be sustainable," he said.
Mr Blair confirmed that the government would be announcing plans to allow all "three star" hospitals in the National Health Service to become foundation trusts.
Pressed on Iraq, the prime minister urged the public to "wait and see" the report of the Iraq Survey Group, which is trying to unearth evidence that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction. "People will make a judgment over a period of time," he predicted.
The prime minister said he remained confident that the intelligence the government had received on Iraq prior to the war was correct.
"I remain very firmly of the view that this was a threat that had to be dealt with and that Iraq would be a significantly better place because of the action we have taken," Mr Blair said.
He claimed the "biggest problem that I personally have on this issue is that a lot of people, including a lot of people in the media, do not believe that there is a threat arising from terrorism and weapons of mass destruction." In contrast, he asserted that he believed "absolutely passionately that this is the biggest security threat to the 21st century." |
