1. What do you know about Britain?
Think of five words that characterise Britain
Think of one person who represents the country for you
In small groups, agree on the best five words and the most representative person
Report your choices, and the reasons for your choices, to the class

2. Britain in the Blair Era
Cool Britannia
Britain in the Blair Era

3. The Blair Era Tony Blair Leader of the Labour Party from 1994
Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1997
Will resign in 2007

4. Before the Blair Era
1980s
Strong economy, but society is divided

5. Before the Blair Era Early 1990s MAR 1990: POLL TAX RIOT
MAY 1990: BAN ON BRITISH BEEF
1991: START OF THE GULF WAR
16 SEP 1992: BLACK WEDNESDAY
1993: LLOYD'S OF LONDON LOSSES
FEB 1995: BARINGS COLLAPSES

6. Before the Blair Era Early 1990s – politics
Conservative Party in power
Leader from 1990: John Major
Very unpopular
Won 1992 election
Low public trust
‘Sleaze’

7. The dawn of the Blair Era
International Cultural Successes
Art (Britart)
Music (Britpop)
Film (Britpack)
Fashion
Cool Britannia
Football (1996 World Cup)
All associated with working-class culture

8. The dawn of the Blair Era
Battle of the Bands
Oasis
Blur
The Spice Girls

9. The dawn of the Blair Era
Changing politics
1994 John Smith, Labour leader, dies
Tony Blair elected in his place
He and a new generation of young leaders argued that without reform the party would not be elected

10. The dawn of the Blair Era
Reform of the Labour Party
One Member One Vote (OMOV)
Drop ‘Clause 4’ of the Party Constitution
New Slogan:
New Labour New Britain

11. The Dawn of the Blair Era
New Labour and Cool Britannia
1996, New Labour drew support from many of the cultural stars associated with ‘Cool Britannia’
D:Ream, writes Things can only get better, an election anthem

12. 1997 Election Blair’s New Labour wins with ‘a landslide’
Party at No. 10: pop stars, artists and actors invited
National feeling of optimism and unity

13. New Labour, New Britain Feeling of solidarity increased by
Death of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997
Preparations for the Millennium Celebrations

14. Disappointment
Early actions of the government angered many of its supporters
e.g. University tuition fees
Many ‘Cool Britannia’ celebrities withdrew their support in 1998
People angered by government ‘spin’ and ‘branding’
But people still felt that they had entered a new era

15. The End of the Blair Era
Tony Blair has said he will resign before the next Labour Party Conference, in Autumn 2007
The Blair Legacy
What next?