Blair's 10 wasted years - Robinson

6.33.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 17th May 2007

Stephen Robinson - asked to comment on the Blair years

Commenting to the Essex Chronicle, Lib Dem Stephen Robinson has described the Tony Blair era as '10 years of wasted chances.' Things *could* only get better, after the disastrous Conservative years. Money did go to schools and hospitals; but things are not much better - because Labour (and the Conservatives) want central control; they trust Whitehall not Town Hall or local people.

Labour has corrupted the political process. Spin and style rule, not policy and substance - so much so that the Conservatives now copy Labour. Tony Blair should have reformed the system to give people, not politicians, more of a say.

They gave power to Scotland and Wales, but not England and local government. They removed hereditary peers but appointed friends who donate to Labour, rather than give people a vote.

They took us to war on false information. They twice promised no university fees but then imposed them. They promised not to increase income tax but increased national insurance instead. Interest rates and inflation are rising; the fear of crime remains high, and Britain is not a greener or fairer country.

With Gordon Brown set to become Prime Minister, it is worth remembering that the failures of the last 10 years are as much his as Blair's. The Liberal Democrats would give Blair 4 out 10.