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'''Tony Blair''', full name '''Anthony Charles Lynton Blair''' (born May 6, 1953) is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He belongs to and is the current leader of the Labour Party, a self-described democratic [[socialist]] party<ref>[http://www.labour.org.uk/index.php?id=labourdemocracy]</ref>. He became leader in 1994, following the death of his predecessor, John Smith, defeating current Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett (Deputy Leader under Smith) and current deputy Prime Minister John Prescott for the leadership. He was a major figure in the modernisation of the party and the [[Labour party|New Labour]] movement, and led the party to a landslide victory in the 1997 general [[election]], ending 18 years of [[Conservative]] government. Labour easily won re-election in 2001 and, less convincingly, in 2005.
'''Tony Blair''', full name '''Anthony Charles Lynton Blair''' (born May 6, 1953) has been the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]] since May 1997. He belongs to and is the current leader of the British [[Labour Party]], having been elected to the party leadership in 1994 following the death of his predecessor, [[John Smith]].
Tony Blair has stated he would step down as the party leader in time for the Trades Union Congress conference in September 2007 <ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5322094.stm]</ref>.
While the Labour Party is a self-described "democratic [[socialist]] party"<ref>[http://www.labour.org.uk/index.php?id=labourdemocracy]</ref>, it has become very much more [[centrist]] under Blair's leadership than was previously the case. Blair coined the phrase "[[New Labour]]" to distinguish his own pro-[[market]] policies from the more [[collectivist]] platform of his predecessors. He also used the phrase "[[The Third Way]]"
In the 1990s in particular, Blair was seen as a modern and charismatic leader. His centrist policies and "slick" media image led some commentators to compare him to [[Bill Clinton]].
A combination of Labour's new-found moderation, Blair's personal popularity and the deep unpopularity of the Conservatives under [[John Major]] resulted in a landslide victory for Blair and his party in the 1997 general [[election]], ending 18 years of [[Conservative]] government. Labour easily won re-election in 2001 and, less convincingly, in 2005.
Tony Blair has stated he will step down as the party leader in time for the Trades Union Congress conference in September 2007 <ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5322094.stm]</ref>.
During Blair's tenure as Prime Minister, the [[Labour party|Labour]] government made the Bank of England independent, allowing them to set the nation's interest rates (which had previously been set by the Chancellor of the Exchequer), and has introduced a national [[minimum wage]], in 1998, which has gradually been increased over time. Scotland has also gained a devolved Parliament, and Wales a devolved assembly, and limited attempts have been made to devolve power to the regions (although these have not been successful).
During Blair's tenure as Prime Minister, the [[Labour party|Labour]] government made the Bank of England independent, allowing them to set the nation's interest rates (which had previously been set by the Chancellor of the Exchequer), and has introduced a national [[minimum wage]], in 1998, which has gradually been increased over time. Scotland has also gained a devolved Parliament, and Wales a devolved assembly, and limited attempts have been made to devolve power to the regions (although these have not been successful).