This post was originally published on this site.
In close to 30 years in political broadcasting, I’ve never had the faintest idea of what was coming around the corner. I might have guessed whatever it was would probably be bad, but that’s about it. Apart from once, in Brighton, at the Labour party conference in 2005.
Tony Blair, still then master of all he surveyed, was delivering his leader’s speech. His theme was familiar – Labour values of solidarity and social justice in a changing world – and about halfway through, he turned to globalisation. Blair could be very persuasive, but on this occasion, he was blunt.
‘I hear people say we have to stop and debate globalisation,’ he said. ‘You might as well debate whether autumn should follow summer.