Telegraph Article

Originally Posted by :
George Bush is to visit Britain in February, thrusting his controversial relationship with Tony Blair INTO phpbb_the spotlight in the run-up to next year's general election.

The President is to come to London in three months' time, reciprocating Tony Blair's trip to Washington last week.

Mr Bush's visit, likely to be part of a wider tour of European countries, will pose a problem for the leaders of both main parties as they gear up for a poll expected to be held in or before May.

For Mr Blair, the presence of the President carries the risk of costing him support among Labour voters implacably opposed to Britain's involvement in the American-led campaign in Iraq.

Does everyone remember the million pound chip supper in Sedgefield last year?
[Rep]

Blair is mad if he allows this to happen. Bush is not Mr popular in this country, and for Blair to keep his close associations with him in the run up to the election is political suicide. The biggest problem for Blair is it is his base support that will turn against him most, and he has the real danger of losing overall power.

So on that note, come on over Mr Bush, I will be delighted to see you. I'm sure you will recieve a warm welcome from the British people :roll:
[Rep]

I agree he must have lost the plot. Imagine labour politicians and remaining activists reading this story at breakfast tables up and down the country. :-)
[Rep]

This is hilarious! :-)

Blair is popular in the US - much more so than here - so his implicit support was probably a big asset to Dubya in the presidential election.

The reverse definitely isn't the case - Bush is more unpopular here than in the US and Blair needs his electoral supprt like he needs a hole in the head. Bush probably thinks that by visiting in the run-up to the elction he'll be helping Blair and thus paying back Blair for his support. No doubt Labour's spin doctors fully realise that the reverse is the case and are desperately trying to think of a diplomatically-acceptable way of asking the Leader of the Free World to delay his visit for a year or so.
[Rep]