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Blair's attack on Tories delights faithful
Apr 27 2005
Liverpool Echo

TONY BLAIR came to Liverpool last night with a simple message for the people of the city - "you're better off under my leadership".

The Prime Minister chose the splendour of St George's Hall to make one of his hardest hitting campaign speeches yet, blasting the Tories for what he called their "devious, underhand and back door" game plan to win the election.

He may have been a "war criminal" and "second Maggie Thatcher" to the 100 or so anti-war protestors outside, but inside Mr Blair was on safer ground with a 900-strong audience of party rank and file, trade unionists, councillors and local celebrities.

In dark suit and red tie, he spoke without notes and showed none of the effects three weeks of campaigning might rightly have brought to bear.

He spoke of the enormous strides Liverpool had taken under a Labour government.

Mr Blair said: "I know there are big problems in Liverpool but I also know this - this is a better city than it was eight years ago - I know that!"

Accompanied by Waterloo-born wife Cherie, he also gave the city's Capital of Culture celebrations a major vote of confidence.

"What a great city this is. Well done on winning European Capital of Culture in 2008. It's a tremendous thing for Liverpool and you are going to do brilliantly."

Pausing as he took in his surroundings, he said: "Wow, it really is as breathtaking as they say."

Entering the marvellous hall to a standing ovation and the uplifting strains of U2's Beautiful Day, he made his speech overlooked by the hall's huge stained glass window, depicting St George's slaying of the dragon.

And it was clear the Prime Minister had a few dragons of his own to deal with.

The Tories yes, Michael Howard, yes, but perhaps the more dangerous foe has been identified as apathy.

A low turnout could let the Conservatives in by the back door, Mr Blair warned.

"Understand the Conservative strategy. It isn't and never has been to win by the front door.

"Their strategy is to keep their vote and depress ours.

"And I do not just mean depress it by lowering it, I mean depress it by demoralising it, by saying to people nothing has happened, look at the NHS, it is all to do with MRSA, look at the schools, it is all to do with school discipline.

"Issues that of course are important for our country - they want to take and use them to castigate an entire system so that people become demoralised.

"Understand the Tory staregy, it is devious, it is underhand, it is back door but let us make sure it is not effective."

The fact Liverpool had been chosen for the rally was very significant in itself, since none of the city's five Labour MPs are defending slim majorities.

Liverpool is viewed as a traditionally Labour city nationally, regardless of the Lib-Dems in the Town Hall.

And this was about Blair mobilising the Labour heartlands, urging them to get out and vote - or risk waking up with a Conservative government on May 6.

Party chairman Ian McCartney, one of a number of speakers to take the stage before the PM, even suggested workers take "one of those 28 days holiday the Labour Government has given to every worker in Britain" to make sure they get to the ballot boxes.

Other speakers included Big Brother winner Craig Phillips, Hollyoaks actor Jimmy McKenna and former Liverpool FC captain Phil Thompson.

Phil Thompson said: "I'm a big Red but we've got another big Red here tonight who I have supported for many years.

"The city is developing at an incredible rate and I'd like to thank Tony Blair and his Government for what it all means to us."

All five Labour MPs from the city attended the rally and it was perhaps significant that Minister for Work Jane Kennedy, perhaps the MP most under threat in Wavertree, was chosen to speak and share the stage with the Prime Minister.

All the usual Blair body language was there, the outstretched arms, the upturned palms, the occasional clenched fist.

He said he was not concerned about the Tory attacks on him because he would continue to talk about the issues.

"Today I am talking about education, tomorrow I am going to talk about education, on Thursday I am going to talk about the strong economy, at the weekend I am going to talk about the NHS.

"Every time they insult me and our cause I am going to talk about the issues that really affect the future of this country."

Mr Blair said his real concern was the attacks the Conservatives would launch against schools, the NHS, the economy, and cities such as Liverpool.

His speech also took in world issues and he spoke movingly about the plight of Africa.

"It is a scandal that as we speak thousands of children are dying needlessly in Africa - that is what a third term government should be about.

"There is so much for us still to do. There are so many things we believe in passionately and want to take forward.

"In any Government there will be disappointments and disagreements, even fundamental ones, but that is politics.

"The eight years have sometimes been hard but we could never have done anything for cities like Liverpool without getting power and that's why we need to stay there."

After 20 powerful minutes he was gone, shaking as many hands as he could as the crowd rose to salute their man for delivering what they wanted - perhaps needed - to hear once again.

St George's Hall was yesterday awarded a blue heritage plaque for the part the building played in the history of ventilation - apparently it is home to the world's first air-conditioning system.

Perhaps it was an appropriate venue for an election rally then, given the amount of hot air we have already heard delivered in this seemingly endless campaign.

For the Labour faithful last night though, the presence of their Prime Minister was the only breath of fresh air they needed. ¦ A Fathers 4 Justice campaigner was arrested last night after protesting during the Prime Minister's appearance in the city.

The unnamed man was part of a group who climbed up some scaffolding near to the hall to protest.

A police spokesman said he understood the man, who was arrested at 9pm, was not in costume.