ABSTRACT
Tony Blair became Leader of the Labour Party on 21 July 1994 and then Labour’s new Prime Minister on 1 May 1997, ending an eighteen-year period of Conservative rule during which the Labour Party despaired of ever forming another administration. He was also successful in the general election of 7 June 2001, securing a second term of office. Since becoming Labour Leader he has pursued his ‘New Labour’ policy of the ‘Third Way’, that is, of using both public and private bodies in the tackling of economic growth and social welfare. In effect, he has abandoned Labour’s traditional commitments to public ownership, full employment and a close association with the trade unions.
