September

Issue 1193, and time to analyse how that “new kind of politics” promised by our still-shiny and new Prime Minister is going.

Tony Blair, 1997
Enters Downing Street outlining priorities as education, the NHS, and to “be a government that seeks to restore trust in politics in this country… That is our objective for the people of Britain. Today, enough of talking – it is time now to do.”
Gordon Brown, 2007
Enters Downing Street outlining priorities as “change in our NHS, change in our schools, change to build trust in government… That is my promise to all the people of Britain, and now let the change begin.”

TB
Appoints former personal adviser Peter Mandelson as cabinet office minister to be eyes and ears across government
GB
Appoints former personal adviser Ed Miliband as cabinet office minister to be eyes and ears across government

TB
Appoints SDP founder Roy Jenkins to chair commission on electoral reform
GB
Appoints SDP founder Shirley Williams as advisor on nuclear proliferation

TB
Gives David Simon, chairman of BP, peerage and makes him Minister of State in DTI
GB
Gives Digby Jones, former head of CBI, peerage and makes him Minister of State in DTI

TB
Appoints former Conservative front-benchers Chris Patten and Michael Heseltine as chair of RUC inquiry and Millennium Commissioner respectively
GB
Appoints former Conservative front-benchers Patrick Mercer and John Bercow as security adviser and children with learning difficulties respectively

TB
Holds hour-long meeting with Margaret Thatcher in Downing Street within three weeks of moving in
GB
Holds hour-long meeting with Margaret Thatcher in Downing Street within three months of moving in

TB
Dithers over whether to rule out referendum on Euro entry
GB
Dithers over whether to rule out referendum on European treaty

TB
Brown-noses Stuart Higgins, editor of Sun, in return for favourable coverage
GB
Brown-noses Paul Dacre, editor of Mail, in return for favourable coverage

TB
Lets it be known that he has been consulted by family at centre of enormous news story, death of Princess Diana
GB
Lets it be known that he has been consulted by family at centre of enormous news story, disappearance of Madeleine McCann

TB
Changes party conference procedures to end composite motions raised at last minute and put to vote with potential to embarrass leadership
GB
Changes party conference procedures to end emergency motions raised at last minute and put to vote with potential to embarrass leadership