'Let's talk?' No, you listen, Mr Blair

Tony Blair has conceded that the criminal justice system has failed the British people. Launching the Government's 'Let's Talk' consultation exercise with the public, he bewailed the decline of respect in society.

All well and good, but listening to his speech, it seemed to me the sort of speech a new leader might make. It was a speech setting out a better vision of Britain, complete with all the rhetoric about reform. Above all, it was what I would expect from a man seeking a public mandate, and not one who has been in power for the past nine years.

At this stage in Blair's leadership, we should be expecting a valedictory speech, complete with a list of verifiable achievements. We should not be subjected to yet more meaningless consultation, complete with grand plans for the future. He should be telling us what he has done with the nine years we have given him. The tragedy of Blair is that, with a substantial Labour majority and the goodwill of the British public, he could have done so much. Instead, he has wasted his time and ours, and has now resorted to his favourite technique of soundbites and gimmicks. This time around, he is fooling no-one but himself.