Farewell to the new Britain

By Jason Moore WHAT a debacle New Labour's new Britain has become. When Tony Blair took power it was heralded as the dawn of a new era. For me it was the first time that I could remember a Labour government in power. The spin worked; out with the old and in with new. I have always thought that the appointment of a non-English coach for the national football team was all part of the Blair revolution. If a foreigner can get us the results then all the best. It was painted as new Britain, a Britain which was changing for the better. Unfortunately, England having a foreign coach has been about as successful as Tony Blair's government. I don't think it is a question of going back to square one, I don't think we even moved. Blair and Sven will be leaving soon and really there is little to show for their work. Britain remains a nation plagued by the same old problems and the football team will be crashing out in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in a match which will last about three days and which the tabloid press will say we should have won. Nothing has changed apart from the endless spin. The Football Association in their wisdom have turned to a likeable chap who will not rock the boat. I don't think England will advance with Steve McLaren at all, but he has safe hands and he is English. Trouble is there isn't a Steve McLaren in politics at the moment, if there was he would get my vote. Dependable, honest and pretty average is our Steve. How refreshing after the hard sell and spin of New Labour.