Election '97 - Live Interviews with Tony Blair, John Major and Paddy Ashdown (1997)

In April 1997, ITN's Michael Brunson conducted live interviews with the three main party leaders, just one week before the country headed to the polls. Liberal Democrats leader Paddy Ashdown, interviewed on 23 April, argued that there was no real difference between the Conservatives and New Labour, and that only a vote for the Lib Dems would see increased investment in health and education. The next day, Labour Party leader Tony Blair sought to put across his party's vision of Britain as a country that could "do better", while attacking the legacy of the Conservatives' 17 years in power as well as their plans for pensions. The final interview, recorded on 25 April, saw UK Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader John Major accuse Tony Blair of deliberately trying to "frighten" the electorate ahead of polling day, primarily by making statements about Tory policies which were "flatly untrue".
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[@chrisbayes2972]

Really enjoying this ITN Archive material.

[@asianguy86]

Pray for labour party

[@howdan1985]

Same here - This archive material is brilliant, so nostalgic.

[@baders087]

Whatever your political persuasion, you can’t deny these 3 men are of far greater stature than anyone in politics now.

[@ln2deep]

I'd vote for any of them.

[@ehnowthen]

The peas are great tonight dear

[@hawsrulebegin7768]

Waking up the day after the 97 election us young people felt a new dawn had come. Blair was loved, the Tories were swept away. We had hope and positivity. It last 6 months. But they were a good few months.

[@Yossarian1179]

notice how directly and precisely they answer the actual question.

[@DavidR_192]

That interviewer was scandalously appalling! The difference between how hard his approach with Blair and Ashdown was, versus his casual 'chat' with Major.

[@philipjones5941]

Major changed his tune on referendums in later years

[@RPKGameVids]

Knees to the left, elbows to the right, the ears have it, the ears have it.

[@tobypoingdestre]

If only we knew what we know today

[@rolandrothwell4840]

Paddy Ashdown was the only man out of the 3. He had integrity and was anti the Iraq war! I remember 1997 and all the hope, and Blair squandered that good will!!!!!!!!!

[@wilsonfisk6626]

Major was also against the Iraq war.

[@chocochiche]

Major was a proper statesman and honest decent man

[@wilsonfisk6626]

@@chocochiche Very much so.

[@philipjones5941]

Cheated on his wife

[@wilsonfisk6626]

@@philipjones5941 The three of them cheated on their wives. That's what politicians do, cheat on their spouses. Angela Rayner, Boris Johnson, John Prescott, Michael Foot

[@bk4885]

Tony blair destroying the tories. Great

[@asianguy86]

Pray for labour party

[@roblloyd6082]

Yes then he destroyed our gold , our pensions , our immigration, then he destroyed Iraq , Afghanistan, you clown 🤡

[@roccoparks]

Then destroying the country for 10 years

[@nunyvanstta135]

And still they all say the same things today 🙄😏 Nothing changes.

[@markorton-8175]

Paddy pants down🤣😜

[@teaman7v]

Dwarf old Paddy. Politics needs men like him

[@Mkbshg8]

I was just a wee nipper then so it's interesting to see now through adult eyes and hindsight.

[@MarkStevens8899]

Blair started the rot

[@ln2deep]

Social media and the propagation of junk narratives are the main reasons for the deterioration of politics and political discourse. I don't think it has anything to do with one particular person.

[@privaatsak]

Oh man, old Major sure changed his tune on referenda! 😆

[@getheroutofthetruck]

Most of London still looked like it was part of England, back then.

[@DavidR_192]

In which way? Can you expand?

[@phoenixofcolorado8610]

Yikes

[@getheroutofthetruck]

@@phoenixofcolorado8610 am I wrong?

[@Connie_TinuityError]

@@DavidR_192 No need to expand. Just take a look at London nowadays, and you'll see what ways.

[@bk4885]

New labour new britain. The country public services growth. Much better under new labour

[@Edward-cv2gw]

Silly fool

[@kingpig8732]

@@Edward-cv2gwno he’s completely right, People just like to believe that Labour could’ve possibly won on the left, they couldn’t, being a centrist isn’t bad, they brought the minimum wage, good economic growth, surestart, low child poverty, and an NHS with 0 waiting times, hell people complained because their appointments were coming too quick!

[@Edward-cv2gw]

@kingpig8732 Centrist is a completely meaningless word,it basically means liberal. Economically and culturally liberal.

[@kingpig8732]

@@Edward-cv2gw That sounds like a good thing though doesn’t it? Considering most of new labour’s detractors say ‘DuH it’s not tribally left enough!’

[@roccoparks]

@@kingpig8732waiting times went up under labour, plus immigration went out of control and they crashed the economy years later

[@Sc25515]

Same old soundbites as this time round. Labour under Blair was a great time for the country.

[@rolandrothwell4840]

Isn't it interesting that Labour and Conservative are indistinguishable, like today! That's why I am proudly voting Liberal Democrats because they are to the left of Labour.

[@roccoparks]

If you were a scrounger or an immigrant for sure

[@firmbutton6485]

Tax credits. Immigrants. Islam. Thanks Tony.

[@1angelsigh]

Record low homelessness, record low NHS waiting lists, child poverty reduced, a minimum wage, maternity pay, peace in Northern Ireland. But there were some more brown, black, and Eastern European people Oh noes

[@zeddeka]

Russian troll

[@moonlit_forest2680]

Immigration was higher under the tories😅

[@samt7351]

You actually believe the rubbish you come out with ?

[@bk4885]

Pricl