Blatcherism

Blatcherism is a term formed as a portmanteau of the names of two British politicians, Tony Blair (Labour Party) and Margaret Thatcher (Conservative Party). It has been used by critics of monetarism and economic liberalism to refer to the thesis that a policy model of the Thatcher government, distinct from one-nation conservatism, was resurrected when Blair came to power.^[1] It echoed "Butskellism", frequently used to describe the post-war consensus on a mixed economy with moderate state intervention to promote social goals, particularly in education and health.

Editorial comment by Red Pepper before the 1997 general election that brought Blair to power may be the earliest usage.^[2] Another early sighting of this term was in 2001, used by Brian Lee Crowley,^[3] a Canadian commentator. The term has also been used, for example, by the journalist Alexander Cockburn in preference to Blairism.

^ Ayto, John; Crofton, Ian, eds. (2009). Brewer's Dictionary of Modern Phrase & Fable (2 ed.). Chambers Harrap Publishers. ISBN 9780199916108. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
^ "New Labour's Snakes". Red Pepper. October 2002. Archived from the original on 13 January 2006.
^ Crowley, Brian Lee (23 May 2001). "Lines between political left and right overlapping". The Halifax Chronicle Herald. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.

[1] Ayto, John; Crofton, Ian, eds. (2009). Brewer's Dictionary of Modern Phrase & Fable (2 ed.). Chambers Harrap Publishers. ISBN 9780199916108. Retrieved 25 February 2024.

[2] "New Labour's Snakes". Red Pepper. October 2002. Archived from the original on 13 January 2006.

[3] Crowley, Brian Lee (23 May 2001). "Lines between political left and right overlapping". The Halifax Chronicle Herald. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.

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