The Future of Britain

Every now and again a week goes pas that you know will shape history, this past week as been one of those weeks. With Labour setting out it's vision for Britain in the Queen's Speech, the appointment of Herman van Rompuy to the role of EU President and talks between Rome and Canterbury at the weekend. As always the normal issues have surrounded the week in politics the future of Labour under Gordan Brown, constitutional reform and the economic down turn.

Labour's Vision for Britain - this week saw the beginning of the long road to the election with the state opening of Parliament and the Queen's Speech. With only a maxim of 70 official Parliamentary days til the election, the Queen's Speech was the perfect moment for Labour to set the dividing lines between them and the other parties. Did they do this? Only time will tell. The proposals they set out were good, but I believe Britain needs more them good. If Labour want to win this election they need to revive need to come back the idea of social change. In the past 12 years Labour has moved the British Society forwards bringing in the minimum wage, welfare reform and reform and moderation to the public services. If Labour want to win they need to be the party of social reform and welfare. Not just spending for the sake of spending but spending to improve society, lift people out of poverty and strengthen public services.

EU President - I always wanted Tony Blair to get the job of EU President. You can think what you like about the guy, but I believe he is the greatest prime minister since Churchill. Yes he made some mistakes but he always did what he thought was right. You cant get better then that, can you? He brought this country out of the 20st Century and sometimes a 19th Century into the 21st Century and a 21st Century mind set. And I believe if the EU countries had wanted a President, who would of got the job. But they didn't, they wanted a chairman who would help the leaders design policy and make decisions , not someone who would design policy themselves and make decisions on their own. In the end the name of EU President is a bit misleading because he isn't the figure head of the EU but more of chairman and an equal among a lot of leaders in the EU. Maybe it was the right decision Herman van Rompuy isn't widely known in the EU, let alone outside of the EU. But he is known inside Belgium where he is the Prime Minister as someone who brings unity and stability to the government and the nation. Maybe that's what Europe needs?