Blair claims legacy is a 'fairer Britain'

Wednesday, 21 February 2007 12:00 AM

Tony Blair hopes his legacy will be seen as a Britain that is "fairer and stronger" than ten years ago, the prime minister said today.

Asked in the House of Commons what the prime minister wanted to be remembered for, Mr Blair responded that he hoped people will recognise the work the Labour government has achieved in improving working families' lives.

He argued that his government had achieved impressive progress on division, poverty and inequality and that Labour's reforms and the assistance given to families meant "this country actually is a fairer and stronger country than it was ten years ago".

Mr Blair returned to his themes of poverty and justice throughout today's prime minister's questions, and he stressed the need for more work both home and abroad.

He described people trafficking as the new slave trade, a theme he returned to when asked about the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery.

A number of events are planned to commemorate the bicentenary, Mr Blair explained, but the most important thing is to recognise the challenges that remain, regarding both the 'modern slavery' of people trafficking and the need for education in Africa.

He called for the G8 to support the chancellor and development secretary's plans to provide access to primary education for all children in Africa, arguing that this would be a fitting tribute to the abolitionists.

"As much as any memorial service or any commemoration, that would be the most fitting way to mark what was a huge and wonderful parliamentary campaign 200 years ago," Mr Blair said.

In a day dominated by foreign policy discussion, Mr Blair also found time to condemn the bombing of the 'Friendship Express' train in India.

Mr Blair claimed that the attack had taken on a doubly shameful significance as the train was a symbol of Hindus and Muslims working together. He asserted that the only response to such "nihilistic terrorism" was to "stand up and defeat it".

The prime minister also faced fresh criticism over ID cards. Following yesterday's announcement that the police would have access to the proposed national database, Mr Blair was accused of backtracking on previous assurances that this would not be the case.

Mr Blair denied any change of policy and maintained that the register is necessary to tackle crime and immigration and labelled the Conservatives' opposition as "regressive, old fashioned and out of date".

Tags:
• labour
,
• party politics