John Rapley

It was just a matter of time. Still, British Prime Minister Tony Blair was stretching out his last act. Some of the people in the wings of the British Labour Party were growing restless.

There had always been an understanding in the British political establishment that Tony Blair and Gordon Brown reconciled their competing ambitions more than a decade ago with a sort of secret pact. Labour leader John Smith had died in office. Both men wanted his job. But the Labour Party had been in opposition for nearly two decades. It could ill afford to now rip itself open with an acrimonious leadership contest.

So, according to legend - no paper trail was left, and neither man has quite acknowledged the pact - Gordon Brown agreed to stand down and allow his rival to assume the leadership. But there was a catch: Mr. Brown would get exclusive power to manage the economy as Chancellor of the Exchequer (Britain's minister of finance), and Tony Blair would resign after an agreed period and allow Mr. Brown to take over the premiership.

Successful partnership

The partnership was splendidly successful, in that the Labour Party re-emerged from the wilderness and became highly regarded in office. Led by the charismatic Mr. Blair, Labour governments moved rightwards and pulled much of the Conservative Party's middle-class support out from under it. Struggling to regroup, the Conservatives then moved even further to the right. In the process, they alienated much of their old base. The Conservatives, ageing and disorganised, look like they were sliding towards eventual extinction.

Scandals and controversies there were in Labour governments. But through them all, Mr. Blair's own personal integrity appeared intact. This helped save both him and his government. Meanwhile, Mr. Brown - a fiscal conservative with a liberal heart - managed the nation's economy in a way few ever expected a Labour Chancellor to do. Under his watch, Britain's economy remained healthier than those of the other big European countries.

Getting comfortable

However, Mr. Blair seemed so comfortable in his shoes that some began to wonder if he'd ever take them off. Meanwhile, his aura of decency suffered from his decision to back the U.S. invasion of Iraq. A controversial decision became even moreso when it emerged that the British government had taken similar liberties to its American ally in the way it had manipulated intelligence reports to justify the invasion.

Meanwhile, after a succession of disappointments, the Conservatives seemed finally to find a formula for popularity under a new leader. Their poll numbers resumed rising. Labour's were sinking. Labour Members of Parliament, fearing that regional elections next year might punish them, were jostling for Mr. Blair's removal.

Meanwhile, Mr. Brown's followers wanted their man to finally take the leadership. When - nearly two weeks ago - Mr. Blair gave an interview in which he hinted he was not rushing for the exit, a rebellion broke out. MPs called for Mr. Blair to announce a departure date; some members of his government resigned.

Mr. Blair, having moved his party rightwards, will leave a distinct legacy for 'New Labour.' But not everyone in that party is grateful for it.

John Rapley is a senior lecturer in the Department of Government, UWI, Mona.