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'''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''', 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]].

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]]"

While the Labour Party is a self-described "democratic [[socialist]] party"<ref>[http://www.labour.org.uk/index.php?id=labourdemocracy]</ref>. 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]].

In the 1990s in particular, Blair was seen as a charismatic leader. His left-wing 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.

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.