Tony Blair's long goodbye has dominated the news. So we must all be talking about it. Right? Not exactly.
Tony Blair's long goodbye has dominated the news. So we must all be talking about it. Right? Not exactly.
An earthquake might have been rattling the political landscape in Manchester on Tuesday, but a few yards outside Labour's conference exclusion zone, no one seems to have noticed.
An earthquake might have been rattling the political landscape in Manchester on Tuesday, but a few yards outside Labour's conference exclusion zone, no one seems to have noticed.
While the big beasts of the political jungle gathered for Tony Blair's historic farewell speech, a short walk away in Piccadilly Gardens, people are sitting outside drinking posh coffees.
While the big beasts of the political jungle gathered for Tony Blair's historic farewell speech, a short walk away in Piccadilly Gardens, people are sitting outside drinking posh coffees.
Neil Kinnock, who used to make leader's speeches himself, strides past a few yards away. Not an eye is turned in his direction and the mobile phone conversations make no mention of Tony, Cherie and Gordon.
Neil Kinnock, who used to make leader's speeches himself, strides past a few yards away. Not an eye is turned in his direction and the mobile phone conversations make no mention of Tony, Cherie and Gordon.
Maybe these are the wrong sort of public. Traditionally, the place to take the pulse of what people are talking about is the Clapham omnibus. So how about the Altrincham tram?
Maybe these are the wrong sort of public. Traditionally, the place to take the pulse of what people are talking about is the Clapham omnibus. So how about the Altrincham tram?
The tram-line skirts the perimeter of the conference security zone and it looks as though we're in luck, as a definite political talking point comes into view. There's a small protest, red flags fluttering and a couple of police horses.
The tram-line skirts the perimeter of the conference security zone and it looks as though we're in luck, as a definite political talking point comes into view. There's a small protest, red flags fluttering and a couple of police horses.
No comment
No comment
But a couple of young women sitting on the tram only tut-tut dismissively and go back to a magazine article about Justin Timberlake. A seat behind, a woman confirms a holiday booking.
But a couple of young women sitting on the tram only tut-tut dismissively and go back to a magazine article about Justin Timberlake. A seat behind, a woman confirms a holiday booking.
What's talk about on Altrincham tram?
What's talk about on Altrincham tram?
There's a sudden burst of loud conversation. Is this going to be a voice-of-the-people debate about the future of the Labour leadership? Possibly. Except it's in Polish.
There's a sudden burst of loud conversation. Is this going to be a voice-of-the-people debate about the future of the Labour leadership? Possibly. Except it's in Polish.
Perhaps we need to get right up close to the conference.
Perhaps we need to get right up close to the conference.
At St Peter's Square, by the conference security barriers, it looks more promising. A tall, lean figure emerges from the conference zone, there's a flurry of interest and a passer-by snaps a picture.
At St Peter's Square, by the conference security barriers, it looks more promising. A tall, lean figure emerges from the conference zone, there's a flurry of interest and a passer-by snaps a picture.
It's Jon Snow, off the telly. A few yards away the Transport Secretary, Douglas Alexander, walks through the crowd completely unnoticed.
It's Jon Snow, off the telly. A few yards away the Transport Secretary, Douglas Alexander, walks through the crowd completely unnoticed.
Doesn't anyone care about the political upheavals taking place behind these security fences?
Doesn't anyone care about the political upheavals taking place behind these security fences?
How about that other home of strong opinion and political wisdom? The public house. With the conference on the doorstep it's got to be on the pub televisions? That'll get the drinkers talking.
How about that other home of strong opinion and political wisdom? The public house. With the conference on the doorstep it's got to be on the pub televisions? That'll get the drinkers talking.
Pub philosophy
Pub philosophy
There's a pub across the road from Manchester United's Old Trafford ground, festooned with football regalia. But they've got music videos on the box. Don't they feel the hand of history on the remote control?
There's a pub across the road from Manchester United's Old Trafford ground, festooned with football regalia. But they've got music videos on the box. Don't they feel the hand of history on the remote control?
Conferences take place behind barriers
Conferences take place behind barriers
There must be somewhere to share this this political milestone?
There must be somewhere to share this this political milestone?
Not in the Yates's wine lodge, it's screening MTV. There's a bar called Che with a Cuban flag - and no sign of the conference speech there either. And Wetherspoon's is another no-show for the big Blair address.
Not in the Yates's wine lodge, it's screening MTV. There's a bar called Che with a Cuban flag - and no sign of the conference speech there either. And Wetherspoon's is another no-show for the big Blair address.
Finally, there's a pub called the Piccadilly which makes room for the leader's farewell. But expecting anyone to pay any attention or to discuss this moment in modern history is a non-starter.
Finally, there's a pub called the Piccadilly which makes room for the leader's farewell. But expecting anyone to pay any attention or to discuss this moment in modern history is a non-starter.
Attention-hungry pundits and politicos fill the television screen - but like people shouting from within a bubble, no one can hear them. Not least because someone has turned the sound down.
Attention-hungry pundits and politicos fill the television screen - but like people shouting from within a bubble, no one can hear them. Not least because someone has turned the sound down.
When Mr Blair gets up to speak, a couple of women lugging shopping collapse into chairs below the big screen.
When Mr Blair gets up to speak, a couple of women lugging shopping collapse into chairs below the big screen.
Big screen appearance
Big screen appearance
"Shall we? Or shan't we? Maybe we shouldn't. It's still early. Oh, go on.Get a bottle in." Maybe they're going to toast Mr Blair with a bottle of pub white.
"Shall we? Or shan't we? Maybe we shouldn't. It's still early. Oh, go on.Get a bottle in." Maybe they're going to toast Mr Blair with a bottle of pub white.
Blair on but sound off
Blair on but sound off
At last, there's another public appearance for Mr Blair, where you can actually hear the words. It's on a giant outdoor screen, around the corner from a fancy Harvey Nichols store, where a man stands outside wearing a top hat.
At last, there's another public appearance for Mr Blair, where you can actually hear the words. It's on a giant outdoor screen, around the corner from a fancy Harvey Nichols store, where a man stands outside wearing a top hat.
The big screen is facing the giant pinwheels outside Selfridges.Children are playing in a water feature, shoppers are sitting down in the warm September afternoon, there are people nearby sipping beer in a no-smoking pub.
The big screen is facing the giant pinwheels outside Selfridges.Children are playing in a water feature, shoppers are sitting down in the warm September afternoon, there are people nearby sipping beer in a no-smoking pub.
Is anyone talking about the seismic shifts in politics? The end of the man who has dominated the political scene for a decade?
Is anyone talking about the seismic shifts in politics? The end of the man who has dominated the political scene for a decade?
Not even the lure of appearing on a Danish cable television channel is enough to get people to speculate, as an overseas camera crew struggles to vox pop passers-by.
Not even the lure of appearing on a Danish cable television channel is enough to get people to speculate, as an overseas camera crew struggles to vox pop passers-by.
And before making fun of the politicians, in their sealed world, you can't help but notice how much the conference people and journalists look and sound like each other - slightly over-dressed, bulky bags, ID tags, wanting to talk about something that doesn't seem to trouble anyone else. We're the odd ones out, not the public.
And before making fun of the politicians, in their sealed world, you can't help but notice how much the conference people and journalists look and sound like each other - slightly over-dressed, bulky bags, ID tags, wanting to talk about something that doesn't seem to trouble anyone else. We're the odd ones out, not the public.
Around the corner in St Ann's Square, in the new-look, confident, cosmopolitan Manchester, there are people drinking coffee in the hot autumn sunshine.
Around the corner in St Ann's Square, in the new-look, confident, cosmopolitan Manchester, there are people drinking coffee in the hot autumn sunshine.
"You know, the weather has really improved," says a woman outside Starbucks. At last, we've found someone ready to venture an opinion on the Blair legacy.
"You know, the weather has really improved," says a woman outside Starbucks. At last, we've found someone ready to venture an opinion on the Blair legacy.
Add your comments on this story, using the form below.
Add your comments on this story, using the form below.
How true, and how depressing. The politicians just want to be re-elected, the public vote for their habitual party label and 'vanilla' politics is the result. The only reason for all the coverage is that the journalists are themselves interested - and there's all that 24-hour news to fill. I'm of the view that anyone who wants to govern should on no account be allowed to.Jonathan, Buckinghamshire
How true, and how depressing. The politicians just want to be re-elected, the public vote for their habitual party label and 'vanilla' politics is the result. The only reason for all the coverage is that the journalists are themselves interested - and there's all that 24-hour news to fill. I'm of the view that anyone who wants to govern should on no account be allowed to.Jonathan, Buckinghamshire
Politics is no different to other areas, such as sport or showbiz, where the news media and their subjects feed off each other in a self perpetuating circle which whirls on and on without any need to really engage with their audience. The circle spins at such a bewildering speed that it¿s difficult for viewers to make any real judgement as to the value of what they¿re being fed so it¿s little wonder they give up and simply ignore it.David, Glasgow
Politics is no different to other areas, such as sport or showbiz, where the news media and their subjects feed off each other in a self perpetuating circle which whirls on and on without any need to really engage with their audience. The circle spins at such a bewildering speed that it¿s difficult for viewers to make any real judgement as to the value of what they¿re being fed so it¿s little wonder they give up and simply ignore it.David, Glasgow
What is there to discuss? "Tony Blair is leaving", "Yes, I know". "Gordon Brown is replacing him", "Yes, we've known that for years". There isn't much else to say and this is barely news as it has been expected for a long time. I do not think people are apathetic to the news, they just don't feel the need to talk about it all the time - especially when it is nothing new to anyone.Michael, London
What is there to discuss? "Tony Blair is leaving", "Yes, I know". "Gordon Brown is replacing him", "Yes, we've known that for years". There isn't much else to say and this is barely news as it has been expected for a long time. I do not think people are apathetic to the news, they just don't feel the need to talk about it all the time - especially when it is nothing new to anyone.Michael, London
This article highlights the weird bubble in which politicians and political journalists live. If Blair needed to go as soon as possible for the good of the country last week, how does one speech to one room full of people - however good that speech might be - mean that suddenly he doesn't need to go after all? And so what if Cherie doesn't like Gordon - particularly since everyone apparently knew it already; how does it affect the life of the average British citizen one iota? This country desperately needs a fourth estate that spends more time focusing on the actions - good and bad - of the government, and less on the transient bubbles of the Westminster soap opera.Nick James, Bristol
This article highlights the weird bubble in which politicians and political journalists live. If Blair needed to go as soon as possible for the good of the country last week, how does one speech to one room full of people - however good that speech might be - mean that suddenly he doesn't need to go after all? And so what if Cherie doesn't like Gordon - particularly since everyone apparently knew it already; how does it affect the life of the average British citizen one iota? This country desperately needs a fourth estate that spends more time focusing on the actions - good and bad - of the government, and less on the transient bubbles of the Westminster soap opera.Nick James, Bristol
It's a sad but true reflection of the British public at large. That said, it's not their fault (or anyone else's) The average member of the public's interest in politics will reflect the level of comfort in their lives. The easier their life the less interested in politics they will be. If things were worse, economically and socialy then more of the public would be interested.To some extent then I think the lack of interest is directly (and ironically) linked to the overall success of the Labour government over the last decade!Phil , Manchester
It's a sad but true reflection of the British public at large. That said, it's not their fault (or anyone else's) The average member of the public's interest in politics will reflect the level of comfort in their lives. The easier their life the less interested in politics they will be. If things were worse, economically and socialy then more of the public would be interested.To some extent then I think the lack of interest is directly (and ironically) linked to the overall success of the Labour government over the last decade!Phil , Manchester
I'm becoming apathetic to the apathy.Andrew Pattison, London
I'm becoming apathetic to the apathy.Andrew Pattison, London
Good story. More rolling news 24/7 does not mean we are better informed. Maybe if there was less, but it was better informed, people might be more interested. Remember the days when ITV had hard-hitting World in Action and now we get Tonight with Trevor Macdonald...hardly cutting edge. Basically rolling news has bored people with politics rather than informing them.Dr David Nicholl, Birmingham
I think this story says it all about this country's complete apathy towards Blair and politics more generally. But can you blame us! I know that I certainly feel that there is little point getting aggravated about something that will never change. It's a sad state of affairs but that is the way that a lot of people feel at the moment. Laura, Isle of Wight
I think this story says it all about this country's complete apathy towards Blair and politics more generally. But can you blame us! I know that I certainly feel that there is little point getting aggravated about something that will never change. It's a sad state of affairs but that is the way that a lot of people feel at the moment. Laura, Isle of Wight
Who is this Tony fellow? Was he on Big Brother?Max, England
Who is this Tony fellow? Was he on Big Brother?Max, England
This is a good article, and I couldn't agree more with the sentiment. I was flicking last night to watch the BBC's 10PM news - wanting to miss the Blair speech bit - and it took 7 flicks before the day's news came on; after more than half the programme dedicated to something that the viewers couldn't be less interested in. Dave Smith, Manchester
This is a good article, and I couldn't agree more with the sentiment. I was flicking last night to watch the BBC's 10PM news - wanting to miss the Blair speech bit - and it took 7 flicks before the day's news came on; after more than half the programme dedicated to something that the viewers couldn't be less interested in. Dave Smith, Manchester
What a surprise after near-saturation coverage on the television news programmes of Blair's departure. I am fed up of watching politicians dodge questions and presenters speculate on uninteresting issues. Surely there is more important news to report ?Andy, Derby
What a surprise after near-saturation coverage on the television news programmes of Blair's departure. I am fed up of watching politicians dodge questions and presenters speculate on uninteresting issues. Surely there is more important news to report ?Andy, Derby
Nobody is discussing party politics because nothing of value is happening in party politics. No-one expects any change because no change has occurred. Political parties seem to delude themselves that we care about their petty disputes and power struggles. What the public wants is a job done well. The identities of those performing the duties are irrelevant.Thomsons Pier, Reading
Nobody is discussing party politics because nothing of value is happening in party politics. No-one expects any change because no change has occurred. Political parties seem to delude themselves that we care about their petty disputes and power struggles. What the public wants is a job done well. The identities of those performing the duties are irrelevant.Thomsons Pier, Reading
This is all very well. But you don't offer a reason why people seem isolated from the mainstream of political life. I think there are many reasons, of course, but perhaps chief among them is the accurate perception that Labour, Lib Dem and Tories all resemble one another far too closely. Why was there no vigorous debate about Trident, the Lebanon crisis or recent educational reforms? Because, apart from differences of policy implementation and points of emphasis, what major differences are there between the main parties? I think the Labour party needs to reinvigorate the political scene by renewing itself and reconnecting with the grassroots. In other words, an end to the Thatchersim-lite that is the Third Way. Jon Holt, Wolverhampton
This is all very well. But you don't offer a reason why people seem isolated from the mainstream of political life. I think there are many reasons, of course, but perhaps chief among them is the accurate perception that Labour, Lib Dem and Tories all resemble one another far too closely. Why was there no vigorous debate about Trident, the Lebanon crisis or recent educational reforms? Because, apart from differences of policy implementation and points of emphasis, what major differences are there between the main parties? I think the Labour party needs to reinvigorate the political scene by renewing itself and reconnecting with the grassroots. In other words, an end to the Thatchersim-lite that is the Third Way. Jon Holt, Wolverhampton
Think of Westminster as one big office block. As ever, the only people who are really interested in the gossip and intrigue that goes on are those contained within. In this case, the 'office block' happens to be running the country, hence the interest of the media. Tim, Middleton
Think of Westminster as one big office block. As ever, the only people who are really interested in the gossip and intrigue that goes on are those contained within. In this case, the 'office block' happens to be running the country, hence the interest of the media. Tim, Middleton
Perhaps if news organisations reported the positives of the politic parties, rather than the in-fighting, gossip and other stuff that isn't actually all that important to the general public, there may be more interest. Regardless of whether a decision/speech is 99% bad or 1% bad, that bad is always fished out and over reported... concentrate on the good instead!Jonathan, Bury St Edmunds
Perhaps if news organisations reported the positives of the politic parties, rather than the in-fighting, gossip and other stuff that isn't actually all that important to the general public, there may be more interest. Regardless of whether a decision/speech is 99% bad or 1% bad, that bad is always fished out and over reported... concentrate on the good instead!Jonathan, Bury St Edmunds
I can't distinguish modern political debate from the average reality-TV show. And I can't stand watching that, either. Sorry!Sarah, Reading
I can't distinguish modern political debate from the average reality-TV show. And I can't stand watching that, either. Sorry!Sarah, Reading
This is no real suprise. On one level, it is an illustration of the depressing apathy about politics among the politics in general. More specifically, however, Tony Blair's speech yesterday was not really news, in the sense that it was not new. We all knew it was his last conference speech as PM. It was a staged event that was expected to take place. It did not bring us much closer to the answers of the only questions that really matter: when will he go and who will replace him? When the Labour Party indulge us by answering them, perhaps there'll be some discussionBrian Sloan, Belfast
This is no real suprise. On one level, it is an illustration of the depressing apathy about politics among the politics in general. More specifically, however, Tony Blair's speech yesterday was not really news, in the sense that it was not new. We all knew it was his last conference speech as PM. It was a staged event that was expected to take place. It did not bring us much closer to the answers of the only questions that really matter: when will he go and who will replace him? When the Labour Party indulge us by answering them, perhaps there'll be some discussionBrian Sloan, Belfast
If I took a holiday in Antarctica over conference season, and returned after all the speeches, would I have actually missed anything? Had Blair announced a leaving date? Had there been a leadership challenge? Has anything palpable actually changed? Not as far as I can see. So Blair made a good conference speech. Bully for him. The fact is, it doesn't matter to anyone outside the politicos and the media. I'm genuinely interested in politics, and I couldn't give a rodent's rear about it!Malk WIlliams, Leighton Buzzard
If I took a holiday in Antarctica over conference season, and returned after all the speeches, would I have actually missed anything? Had Blair announced a leaving date? Had there been a leadership challenge? Has anything palpable actually changed? Not as far as I can see. So Blair made a good conference speech. Bully for him. The fact is, it doesn't matter to anyone outside the politicos and the media. I'm genuinely interested in politics, and I couldn't give a rodent's rear about it!Malk WIlliams, Leighton Buzzard
