http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-s ... s-41201279

Remarkably out of step with reality.

Why not merge the Leagues? Being separate makes no sense to a cosmopolitan chap like Tony. After all, he was watching on his grandpa Jock's shoulders when 146,433 turned up for the Scottish Cup Final in 1937. Then he crossed the border and became a Gallowgate End regular watching his dad, who used the nom-de-foot, Jackie Milburn. Great days and all accurately described in his new book, "Why I Am Still Important and Right About Everything"

Come on, the man is a genius - if only his vision had been achieved, Pools could have been playing for the last 20 years in a regionalised Scotlish division including the likes of Berwick Rangers, Queen of the South and Annan Athletic.

What's not to like?

I quite like the idea of a geographical recentering. I'd laugh me pods off at Plymouth or Yeovil having to play in Dingwall on a cold Tuesday night.

He's like a lingering bad smell. Why can't he just accept his time has been and gone, then feck off.

Surely he was a messiah. Things can only get better. A new Labour party for a new era,.......

He'd wipe the floor with any Tory leader, past or present, the only one he might have struggled against was saint Maggie, but given the fact he wanted to bum her, it would never of happened anyway

You can't blame him for fancying the Baroness surely!

The worst PM in history IMO. Just threw money at any problems, and failed to put in place any real structure that would lead to abetter society in future. He will be credited with starting the dismantling of the state , of which the tories were only too pleased to carry on once they got into power. Absolute muppet and now it appears a nutjob.

I thought he was great as a opposition leader but shocking as pm with a bloody awful wife.

Just wanted to be seen to be cool with everyone from musicians to sporting stars and came across as fake and was Americas birch.

He has a lot to answer for regarding WMDS and is a war criminal.

As one Sunderland supporter put it, " he reminds me of us, fookin great between 1997 and 2001 and shit thereafter"

He really did love himself didn't he. He marched into Durham Big Meeting in 1986 with Blackhall banner, had a pint in the Hardwick beforehand, CND lapel badge on his suit I kid you not. My old man said at the time, if he becomes PM I will eat my hat, but he made my dad eat his hats. I'm sure he was on the payroll of MI5. Completely changed the direction of this country. I hate him more than Thatcher.

He was my MP. I never had any liking for Phony Tony and voted for the father of one of those Redcaps murdered in Iraq who stood against him in the 2005 election.

What a shame John Smith died prematurely - he might have been a truly exceptional Prime Minister.

The removal of Clause 4 was the beginning of the end for Labour.

whatever blair does or wants do the opposite then you might get things right.

7 pages +

The problem is he went a bit up himself and became something of a nut job.

And those in power are generally remembered more for the shit they did than the good.

And all of his shit came at the end of his reign.

And he is a war criminal.

When you compare what Blair's government with the Tories they don't look too bad. But then consider their fondness for PFI, some early inroads into privatising the NHS, the introduction of student loans, championing of 'the market' in education and fondness for illegal wars. Oh and happiness to cosy up to Murdoch and the bankers. Take that lot into account and it starts to look like Blair paved the way for Cameron.

But these "worst prime minister" accolades are only temporary aren't they. Mrs May is going to wipe the floor with them in that department.

I do agree , there was investment in those in areas you mention, but it was money we didn't have, most of it was debt. Yes you do need to throw money at the problem , but Bliar should of got that money from taxing the rich, not through debt. That's why we are in the position we find ourselves in now, though the Tories have exaggerated it and used it as an excuse to bash the working class , and take us back to 1930. Those years between 1999 and 2006 were mental, everyone going out, getting p*ssed, eating out, spend , spend , spend. People earning £300 quid a week living £500 lifestyles, all on the old credit card. I said at the time this won't end well. History will tell us they were good times and Bliar will get the credit for that, but it was all false, a house of cards, and now we are paying a heavy price.

I can absolutely guarantee that doctors and nurses in the NHS didnt think they were having such a good time throughout the periods mentioned above.

Not a cat in hells chance.

There isn't a link, I was just trying to explain that peoples personal debt helped fuel the economy and gave a false picture of how well the economy was doing , to a lesser degree it is still happening today.

Austerity was and is just an excuse for the tories to level things up , take us back to the days when the rich and employers were firmly in control.

You are right about the tories borrowing, yet it hardly ever makes the news. At least Labour left a legacy with their borrowing, new hospitals, colleges etc , the tories are borrowing more just to stand still, with little investment in infrastructure, but tax giveaways for their mates.

Like was said nicely above, a thread arguing about the faults of previous governments and disagreeing over which was worst is a little ironic considering we must have the worst government in living memory in office right now and quite probably the worst opposition too

Blair....how on Earth he hasn't been shot yet I'll never know....and his pig ugly wife!!!!

His wife's face made me feel sick.

What a horrible ugly woman.

Mouth like a piano and face like grotbags