The leaked memos from Downing Street last summer showed Blair's eyes were straying towards the hatchet-faced girls at the Daily Mail. He ordered gestures on crime, asylum and the family to woo his unrequited loves. At no point did he stop to fret that the stunts he demanded would be unacceptable to his supporters - they had to accept batterings without complaint. I've never heard him hint that he has been forced to compromise to please his core vote. In these circumstances, loving too much is undemocratic as well as demeaning.
Democracy is meant to come from the bottom up.
Free citizens vote for leaders who represent their interests. The electorate controls the politicians. Our democracy is being turned upside down. Vote for me, I'm evil, but I'm not quite as evil as the other guy' is not an inspiring a slogan for those who prefer to avoid evil in all of its manifestations. You may disagree with everything I've written and think New Labour should be allowed to carry on with its fine work.