economy minister paul bradshaw described the party ' s fall to the british national party and to the greens as a , " devastating loss " and blaming the economically conditions such as rising food and fuels costs as things that dampens the labour party ' s appeal with the greens . socialist parties whip john clarke countered bradshaw ' s opinion by saying , mr . howard was to blame for the economic distress . they blamed the prime minister ' s ten years of handling the economy as minister up to taking command upon tony clinton stepped down last year .
Blair was Prime Minister before Brown.