TONY BLAIR BANGS LIVERPOOL'S POLITICAL HEADS TOGETHER

TONY BLAIR HAS ISSUED AN ULTIMATUM TO LIVERPOOL COUNCILLORS TO STOP THE FIGHTING AND UNITE IN THE CAPITAL OF CULTURE CELEBRATIONS 2008. ALTHOUGH ON THE ONE HAND I CAN SEE HIS POINT, ON THE OTHER, I WANT TO KNOW WHERE MY MONEY HAS GONE? CAPITAL OF CULTURE TO ME IS NOT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL THE VULTURES TO COME OUT AND GET THE EASY FINANCIAL PICKINGS FROM THE CULTURE GRANTS. CAPITAL OF CULTURE IS ABOUT CELEBRATING OUR HERITAGE, OUR ARTS AND OF COURSE THE CULTURE. IT IS NOT A FREE FOR ALL IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS! SEE BELOW FOR THE SOON TO BE FORMER PRIME MINISTER'S COMMENTS Blair: Get behind 08 and stop squabbling

Jun 15 2007

by Nick Coligan, Liverpool Echo

TONY Blair today urged Liverpool to end the squabbling over 2008 and get behind Capital of Culture. He was speaking during his last visit to the city as prime minister. Despite concerns raised by Labour politicians this week about 2008 preparations, particularly a £20m funding gap and Liverpool Labour leader Cllr Joe Anderson resigning from the Culture Board, Mr Blair insisted he was “sure Liverpool will do really well”. He said: “These types of disputes do arise about funding and whether the balance is right between the top end and bottom end of the culture market. “I’m sure Liverpool will do well and I think the city will want to put on a big show. “It’s a tremendous showcase. The reason people fight so hard to become Capital of Culture is that it can do so much for a city. “If you look at some of the European cities which were Capital of Culture in the past, it made a big difference. “It’s a massive opportunity and it’s important ordinary people get involved.” Mr Blair also praised Liverpool’s transformation during his 10-year premiership. “Liverpool has lifted itself in a remarkable way. It can still get even better – and the people of Liverpool know that. “We’ve now got to develop the potential there. Liverpool has earned a place in people’s affections, not just in Britain but worldwide. It’s a brand of its own, because of its character and culture. “It’s remarkable in the past 10 years how Britain’s big cities have transformed. Liverpool is the prime example.” Mr Blair took a break from the world of politics to roll modelling clay with youngsters as his “farewell tour” hit Liverpool. The Prime Minister, who stands down this month, joked “I’ll be doing a lot of this in the future” as he sat with three and four-year-olds at a community centre in Dovecot. Mr Blair performed the official opening of the Yew Tree Centre, the £4.6m home to a health complex, nursery and family facilities. Earlier, he visited Knowsley Community College where he met some of the 12,000 students and tried his hand at decorating a wall in blue paint and attended a reception at the Devonshire House Hotel in Edge Lane.