Changes

One of Blair's most controversial decisions was to [[Iraq War|invade Iraq]] in 2003 alongside the Americans and other allies. Britain became the second largest contributor of armed forces to [[George W. Bush]]'s "Coalition of the Willing", and Blair staunchly defended the position, and won supporting votes in parliament. Partly due to the war's unpopularity, and partly to a perception that the Government had raised taxes on business and individuals to unacceptable levels, the Labour party won a much smaller majority in 2005 and has seen key bills defeated by backbench revolts such as the plan to hold terrorist suspects for up to 90 days without charge.

One of Blair's most controversial decisions was to [[Iraq War|invade Iraq]] in 2003 alongside the Americans and other allies. Britain became the second largest contributor of armed forces to [[George W. Bush]]'s "Coalition of the Willing", and Blair staunchly defended the position, and won supporting votes in parliament. Partly due to the war's unpopularity, and partly to a perception that the Government had raised taxes on business and individuals to unacceptable levels, the Labour party won a much smaller majority in 2005 and has seen key bills defeated by backbench revolts such as the plan to hold terrorist suspects for up to 90 days without charge.

Blair had lost his momentum, so he retired in mid-2007 and was replaced per prior arrangement by his long-time Chancellor, [[Gordon Brown]]. The worldwide [[Recession of 2008]], continuing into 2009, hit Britain hard and has yet to bottom out. Labour took much of the blame, and its polling rates dropped to levels not seen since the early 1980s. Labour's popularity continued to decline in 2009, as the party made its worst electoral showing in a hundred years in the EU elections in June 2009. Brown, however, beat back his disunited critics, reorganized his cabinet, and stumbled onward. The Conservatives maintained a large lead for the next general election, which was held in 2010 and resulted in a coalition government formed by the [[Conservative Party]] and the [[Liberal Democrats]].

Blair had lost his momentum, so he retired in mid-2007 and was replaced per prior arrangement by his long-time Chancellor, [[Gordon Brown]]. The worldwide [[Recession of 2008]], continuing into 2009, hit Britain hard and has yet to bottom out. Labour took much of the blame, and its polling rates dropped to levels not seen since the early 1980s. Labour's popularity continued to decline in 2009, as the party made its worst electoral showing in a hundred years in the EU elections in June 2009. Brown, however, beat back his disunited critics, reorganized his cabinet, and stumbled onward. The Conservatives maintained a large lead for the next general election, which was held in 2010 and resulted in a coalition government formed by the [[Conservative Party]] and the Liberal Democrats.

==PR and spin==

==PR and spin==