Tom Watson Resigns

No not me. My virtual friend, the Right Honorable Tom, Labour MP for West Bromwich, Birmingham, UK. Tom and I have kept up an occasional correspondence through our blogs, and via email. He's a very cordial fellow, a big music fan, and a family man. In public life, the other TW was a stalwart Blairite, loyal Labour man, and rising star - named only six months ago to Government as Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Defence. But in those six months, he too decided it was time for Tony Blair's long career as Prime Minister to end - now, and not next spring as Blair had indicated. Britain is fatigued with Blair, mainly because of his military adventurism and connections to the Bush Administration, but also because - well - politicians have a shelf life, especially when they're visibly arrogant (ask Joe Lieberman about this combination). So "New Labour" unity goes down with George Bush's poll numbers, and the failture in Iraq that - ultimately - Blair's career will be historically linked with forever. Meanwhile, I hope Tom keeps blogging and gets around to posting his post-resignation thoughts blogside.

UPDATE: Comments the Guardian's Jonathan Freedland: "...it's too late for Tony Blair. He signed up for the Bush project, even though it was doomed. His aides speak of legacy, but this is his legacy - to have glued himself to a reckless venture which has wreaked havoc the world over. Destroying the Blair premiership is the very least of it."

UPDATE II: Tom blogs his letter of resignation, and Blair's response. Love the headline: Minister leaves government to spend more time with his blog

Comments

[Tom]

The ongoing costs of hubris. Would to Heaven that future generations could learn from our idiocy.
Thanks for the post, Tom but I can't say that I'm convinced that we have learned enough yet to apply the appropriate remedies to the 'root cause' (the 'Shrub' in the Outhouse*) of this result. You've been trying hard to wake us all up. So, at least I hope YOU keep going. We need you.

*The Bush in the Whitehouse

[JS]

Tom,

You are a total disgrace. I respected you. This is disgusting. Shame on you. Stabbing a Labour leader in the front like that?

You claim for the good of the Party? More like the good of little Tom Watson.

You are a Judas.

[Slappy]

Walcott joins in on the fun:

http://jameswolcott.com/archives/2006/09/and_then_there.php

In reminds me of how when I read the news I often think that Europeans have more balls than Americans. An elected American politician resign over policy? I can't think of an instance. Their unions riot in the streets over issues that American unions could only dream of. They tell Microsoft's monopoly to go fuck itself instead of rolling over like our government has. Students will fight in the streets with the police over tuitions being raised. We could learn a thing or two from them instead of thinking we run the world.

[Doug]

So now that Tom Watson is retiring is he going to play golf?

[Backword Dave]

Can I just add some facts? Blair indicated originally that the 2005 general election would be his last. He still doesn't understand how much damage this did him in the party. It means the up-and-coming generation (those under 40, like the UK Tom Watson) will develop their careers under a different leader. As Blair is going, whether they impress him or not is irrelevant. The game is to identify the next leader and make oneself useful to him (or, much less likely, her). Blair has hinted before that he may go in 2007, but in July, which is summer not spring.
Also UK Tom Watson was appointed to Defence *four* months ago, not six, and his decision to resign seems less like the product of six months agonised cogitation than expediency - the approaching conference is an ideal time to open nominations for the next leader.
Britain is fatigued with Blair for the reasons you give, but the Inner Party is tired of the uncertainty. Imagine you've applied for your dream job. And you have to wait while your prospective employers make up their minds. There comes a point when you'd rather hear "No" than wait any longer. Since Blair announced his intention to go, everyone has been waiting. The ambitious like Tom Watson can't bear it any longer. They're spending more time working out who's on their side than they are doing anything, and if Blair doesn't leave this year, the Labour government will cease to do anything at all, being entirely taken over by intrigue.