The legacy of Blair

Tony Blair premiership ended as it began, with a rendition of 'Things Can Only Get Better'.

The Labour party used the upbeat song during its 1997 election campaign, to underpin a manifesto that stated: "Our case is simple: that Britain can and must be better." Ten years later, the song was played at Trimdon Labour Club before the Prime Minister officially announced his exit.

Mixed messages?​

The political message is mixed: has Britain got better, or is there still a way to go? The past 10 years have been a rocky ride for the pub trade, with the introduction of new employment, crime and licensing laws that have put increasing amounts of pressure on licensees, who already devote all hours of the day to their businesses.

During his 10 years Tony Blair has been hard on the trade urging action over drinks promotions by telling senior pub company executives that binge-drinking is on the way to becoming the "new British disease".

He also mooted that the trade could be forced to pay for policing and promised various yob crackdowns. Blair also promised action on underage drinking - not surprising as in 2000 his 16-year-old son was arrested for being "drunk and incapable" after celebrating his GCSEs.

However, he has not been averse to heading down to his local either. When George W Bush visited the UK in November 2003 it was to the local Dun Cow Inn in Sedgefield that Blair took the American president for lunch.

The response from licensees to his decade in office is varied. A poll on thepublican.com revealed that 78 per cent of licensees are happy he is stepping down.

The Licensing Act​

No doubt the Licensing Act was the single most important piece of legislation, but it's no surprise that issues of red tape and the smoking ban are at the forefront of licensees' minds too, with many worried they haven't yet seen the full impact of Blair's policies.

Seeds for the Licensing Act were sown during the 2001 election campaign, when Labour attempted to snare young voters by texting: "Cldnt give a XXXX 4 last ordrs? Vote Labour".

The Publican reported fears about the cost of licensing via local authorities. It took until 2005 for the Act to be introduced, bringing a new type of licence and flexible opening hours. At the launch of the new regime Blair stood firm, claiming it would mean a more flexible system and not an explosion of 24-hour drinking.

Anita Adams, licensee at the Golden Slipper, York, says the Licensing Act has restricted publicans' rights.

She says: "Prior to the Licensing Act, a publican's house was his home, and the person who made the decisions was the publican. Because of new legislation in Blair's 10 years we are now a public place, we've had our rights taken away."

But for other licensees, the Act was a passport to greater freedom. Andy Brooks, licensee at the Laughing Fish in Uckfield, East Sussex, says: "The 2003 Licensing Act is universally a good thing, it's one of the very few things we can be grateful to the government for, it's eased up restrictions."

But he wasn't without some criticism.

"We've all got far too much red tape," Andy says. "The overwhelming Blair legacy is the amount of regulation the pub industry has. It's far more difficult to make a living in this industry than it was 10 years ago."

Red tape is still a pressing issue for licensees and many are concerned this has increased under Blair.

Rick Smith, licensee at Bar One Nine in Keynsham, Somerset, is so disenchanted with the trade that he won't be waiting around to see if the country meets these targets and is selling up as soon as he can.

"I think he was very much a Prime Minister for big business and overlooked smaller businesses," he says.

"They just got hemmed in with legislation and red tape, and didn't consider the impact - they certainly didn't support the small pub operator. I can't think of any positives that have come out of it."

The smoking ban​

The smoking ban is high on the agenda for many in the trade. Martin Jones, licensee at the Angel Inn in Royton, Lancashire, says: "I'm not really into politics, all these new laws coming out every week, you don't know whether you're coming or going."

He is particularly worried he will lose trade after the smoking ban.

"There's nothing we can do, a one-man band can't say anything about it," says Martin. "As for what he's done, for me personally it's going to harm us."

Smoking bans have already been implemented in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, with England's due to come into force on July 1.

Rick Robinson, licensee at the Willoughby Arms in Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, says: "The bureaucracy's got so thick, with red tape and paperwork. I'm glad to see Blair go. If the smoking ban had been wrapped up in the licensing law that would have saved a lot of problems we'll have in July."

Not everyone is negative about new legislation that has come in under the Prime Minister, and some publicans are excited about adapting to the changing landscape.

Jeremy Westcott, licensee at the Bell in Buckland Dinham, Somerset, says: "I hate smoking, but we are going to have the best selection of cigars to sell in the pub because there will be smoking outside. At the end of the day change happens. You must make the most of it."

With Blair out and the political situation in a state of flux, it looks like licensees will have to follow Westcott's lead. The Gambling Act could provide more opportunities for them when it comes in during September, but the new regulations are yet to be announced.

Meanwhile, Gordon Brown, presumed to be Blair's successor, has already angered the trade with last year's budget by adding a penny to the price of a pint and a litre of cider. It looks like only time will tell whether things have got better for the pub trade in a country Blair called "the greatest nation on Earth".

What is the legacy of the Tony Blair years?​

• Barry Gillham, Fleurets chairman:

"The problem as far as the trade is concerned is that he's been the weakest prime minister we've ever had. Every time someone complains about him, he says 'we'll pass a new law about that'.

"If there's any advice to Mr Brown it's any time he introduces a new law, can he withdraw two old ones?"

• Tony Payne, Federation of Licensed Victuallers' Associations chief executive:

"Overall in 10 years there's been a massive change in the pub trade.

"There's been some good things, but one of the problems is that massive amounts of legislation makes it difficult for people running small businesses to keep up. The Licensing Act made things more flexible but the problem is it's been overshadowed by the legislation that's making life difficult."

• Mark Hastings, British Beer & Pub Association communications director:

"You'd have to say that the biggest tick in the box during his premiership goes in terms of the economy, we've had a relatively benign and stable economy, which in turn has made consumers feel confident about spending money. These conditions have been good for people doing business in the UK over the past decade.

"I think if one was to balance out the positives and the negatives, I would still be inclined to be optimistic about where we are now in comparison to where we were in 1997. We are seen as being part of the solution, we are seen as being a partner, and therefore we have everything to gain by continuing that sort of tone of dialogue with government."

Ten years of Blair legislation:

- National Minimum Wage Act 1998

- Working Time Regulations 1998

- The Food Standards Act 1999

- Criminal Justice & Police Act 2001

- Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003

- Licensing Act 2003

- Disability Discrimination Act 2005

- Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006

- Age Discrimination Act 2006

- Health Improvement & Protection Act 2006