New Times,
New Thinking.

  1. Spotlight on Policy
  2. Elections
10 May 2010updated 27 Sep 2015 2:21am

Tory MP subverts Blair’s “hand of history” line (and betters it)

Quote of the day.

By Jon Bernstein

Most Conservative MPs are reluctant backers of what they see as a grubby deal with the Liberal Democrats when they should be enjoying unfettered power, but none has put the dilemma they face better than this:

We feel the hand of history on our gonads, squeezing very hard.

The line comes courtesy of Gary Gibbon, who reports that senior Tories think an informal agreement (not a coalition) will be reached today, and the framework of a government tomorrow.

Tony Blair, you will recall, used a similar — if less vulgar — formulation in April 1998, ahead of the talks that led to the Good Friday Agreement. Blair said then:

Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday. The best way to sign up for The Saturday Read is via saturdayread.substack.com The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. The best way to sign up for Morning Call is via morningcall.substack.com
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
THANK YOU

A day like today is not a day for soundbites, really. But I feel the hand of history upon our shoulders. I really do.

Special offer: get 12 issues of the New Statesman for just £5.99 plus a free copy of “Liberty in the Age of Terror” by A C Grayling.

 

Content from our partners
The death - and rebirth - of public sector consultancy
How the Thames Tideway Tunnel is cleaning up London
The UK has talent in abundance. We need to nurture it