Murdoch strikes again

Murdoch has been close to Blair since Blair's 1997 election victory. It seems fitting and almost inevitable that Murdoch and therfore The Sun would be the first paper to tell of the end of Blair, or at least the scheduled end of Blair. May 31st 2007 we are told.

The 'leaking' of this date to The Sun, if orchestrated by No. 10 shows how Murdoch and Blair's relationship is used to their mutual advantage. Murdoch get's a solid date to quote on the front page of his newspaper, ensuring they'll be a best seller. Blair on the other hand gets a reprieve, or at least that is what he and his advisors hope. He has fed the ravenous party wolves a scrap to keep them at bay, yet has done so without himself committing himself to a specific date. In short, Blair has his cake and eaten it.

No wonder he was smiling at his speech today.

Blair has learned from Thatcher's mistakes. Thatcher never said when she would step down, she seemed permanent and unmovable, so her party got rid of her. Blair saw he was in a similar situation so said very publically he would not serve another term. I thought it was clever then and I still think it was clever now. Those in the Labour party who wish to see Blair gone remember Thatcher's toppling too, they remember the damage it did to the Tories. The end is in sight, Blair will be gone, it is only a matter of time. And the Labour rebels won't further jepordize their marginal seats to oust him a few months sooner.

Nothing really has changed, Blair still hasn't told the public when he will be stepping down. It is the press, Murdoch specifically who has decided when Blair is to step down. Murdoch's end date, right or wrong, I feel it is enough to appease those Labour MPs who this morning were contemplating revolution; for another few months at least.