Stand your ground* - Debbie Gibson

As young, idealistic English Law students in the early 90s, we were naturally drawn the Labour Party. Maybe it's because of the unreasonable rebellious streak one has when they are young - question the present authority. Maybe we were all tired of John Major. Maybe it was our upbringing as children of the working class people. But some of us were so sure that John Smith was gonna be the next PM of the UK. In 1994, he proved us wrong by dying unexpectedly.

Then came this young grinning Labour MP from Sedgefield who took over the reigns of the Labour Party, winning us all with his youthful enthusiasm and unmistakable charm. The rest, as they say, is history.

Yesterday, Anthony Charles Lynton Blair appeared before the Queen and tendered his resignation as the PM of the United Kingdom, slightly more than 10 years after sweeping into power with a landslide victory.

The changing face of Blair - from 1997 to 2007 (Pic obatined from BBC News Online)

I've never hid the fact that i'm a great admirer of Blair. Seeing him in action every Wednesday during Question Time in Parliament was fascinating and a real joy. I do not agree with all of his decisions and i have come to respect him for those that i dun agree with.

Unfortunately, most people will remember him as the PM who took UK into war in Iraq. Everyone is entitled to their own views on this matter - i just wanna say that such views should not be motivated by what is "in" and acceptable, and what is popular. Being a leader in a smal tiny way meself, i understand how hard it is to make decisions that will please everyone, decisions which are unpopular but yet, you feel is the right thing to do.

He best summed it up in his farewell speech to his constituency recently:-

And, in time, you realise putting the country first doesn't mean doing the right thing according to conventional wisdom or the prevailing consensus or the latest snapshot of opinion.

It means doing what you genuinely believe to be right.

Your duty is to act according to your conviction.

...

But I ask you to accept one thing. Hand on heart, I did what I thought was right.

I may have been wrong. That is your call. But believe one thing if nothing else. I did what I thought was right for our country.

(you can read his entire speech here)

So whatever your views are on his decisions, respect the man for doing what he thought was the right thing to do for the people he was serving, not doing something which might make him popular or win votes. He made his stand, and - many felt - he delivered.

p/s - check out "Ten Things about Tony" here.

*The 5th song from her 3rd album, Anything is Possible, and one of her many songs which she wrote herself.