Events Detail

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Hudson Institute's Center for European Studies will host the British journalist and historian, Geoffrey Wheatcroft, for an afternoon discussion about likely developments in British politics and Anglo-American relations in the final days of Prime Minister Tony Blair and the early days of his likely successor, Finance Minister Gordon Brown.

Blair has indicated that he will resign as Prime Minister this summer. His resignation will probably be followed by a leadership election that is expected to last seven weeks. The new Labor leader and prime minister will take office in time to address the annual Labor conference this fall.

He will take over an uncertain and faltering government, however, facing a resurgent Tory opposition. Both parties are divided, moreover, on the key foreign policy issues of Iraq, democracy promotion, the future of the European Union, and the long-established "special relationship" between London and Washington. There is a strong sense in all parties that the "New Labor" experiment is drawing to its close but very little agreement on what is likely to follow it. And the general mood of British politics at present is one of uncertainty and foreboding.

Mr. Wheatcroft is ideally placed to explore these issues. He is the author of, among other books, The Strange Death of Tory England. His most recent book, Yo Blair! (Politico's) has just been published. He writes regularly for such publications as the Atlantic, the New Republic, and Slate. Hudson Institute's Director of the Center for European Studies John O'Sullivan will moderate. Journalist and author Christopher Hitchens and Tim Montgomerie, founder and editor of ConservativeHome.com will comment.

Light refreshments will be provided.

To RSVP call 202-974-2400 or email events@hudson.org.

Location:

Betsy and Walter Stern Conference Center
Hudson Institute
1015 15th St, NW, 6th Floor
Washington, DC 20005