Blair to stand down on June 27

Level 3 Advanced

1 Key words

Fill the gaps in the sentences using these key words from the text

tribute failings legacy unrelenting zeal

thump steadfast motion putsch saga

steadfast
1. A ____________ person is one who doesn’t change their opinions or actions because they have a strong

belief in something.
unrelenting
2. ____________ pressure or criticism continues without stopping and is difficult to deal with.

3. If a person has ____________,

failings they have weak points that make them less effective.
motion
4. A ____________ is a formal proposal that people discuss and then vote on in a meeting or debate.

5. If you pay ____________

tribute to someone, you praise them publicly.

6. A ____________
putsch is an attempt made by a group of people to get rid of a government or a leader.
zeal
7. ____________ is great energy, effort and enthusiasm.
thump
8. If you ____________ something you hit it very hard with your fist.

9. A ____________
saga is a long series of events, or a description of them.

10. A person’s ____________

legacy is something that they have achieved that will continue to exist after they stop

working or die.

2 What do you know?

Do you think these statements are True (T) or False (F)? Check your answers in the text.

1. Tony Blair has been prime minister of the UK for 10 years. TRUE

2. Blair became UK prime minister in 1996. FALSE. He becames UK prime minister in 1997.

3. Blair’s likely successor is Gordon Brown. TRUE.

4. Blair is 64 years old. FALSE. He's 54 years old.

5. Blair was the first Labour leader to win three successive elections. TRUE

6. Blair will hand over to the next prime minister in 2 years’ time. FALSE. Bailr will hand over the next prime minister
within a year.
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NEWS LESSONS / Blair to stand down on June 27 / Advanced

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Blair to stand down on June 27
Level 3 Advanced
Blair to stand down on June 27 6 table in appreciation, according to Mr Blair’s
official spokesman. While Mr Blair flew to the 
Matthew Tempest
north-east, the likely next prime minister was in
May 10, 2007
the Commons, answering questions about the
economy. “There are, of course, 600,000 job
1 Tony Blair today announced he was stepping vacancies in the economy – there’s one more
down after 10 years as prime minister and 13 as today actually as a result of announcements that
Labour leader. The prime minister told a crowd of  have just been made,” Gordon Brown joked to
supporters he would stand down as PM on June laughter from all sides.
27. He will tender his resignation to the Queen
7 Tributes have already started flowing in to the 
on that day. In an emotional speech, he said the
departing 54-year old prime minister, whose
judgment on his 10-year administration was “for
future plans are not yet clear. Former US
you, the people, to make”. Mr Blair paid special
secretary of state Colin Powell said Mr Blair had
tribute to his wife and children “who never let me
“an enormous impact on world politics, and he
forget my failings”. But he concluded: “Hand on
certainly has had an enormous impact on the
heart, I did what I thought was right. I may have
special relationship between the United States
been wrong - that’s your call. But I did what I
and Great Britain. He has been a friend, he has
thought was right for our country. This country is
been steadfast in the face of negative public
a blessed country. The British are special. The
opinion, and in the face of crises he’s stood
world knows it, we know it, this is the greatest
steady. And we could always count on him.”
country on earth.”
8 Lindsey German, convenor of the Stop the War 
2 He dealt directly with Iraq, many people’s
coalition, said: “We cannot let this day pass 
perception as his ultimate legacy, saying: “The
without marking the deadly legacy of Tony Blair
criticism since ... has been fierce, unrelenting and 
with the war in Iraq, but this is about the future
costly.” But he insisted: “The terrorists will never
as well.”
give up if we give up.”
9 Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats demanded 
3 Mr Blair admitted that in May 1997, when
an immediate general election to legitimize Mr
Labour took over after 18 years of Tory rule, 
Blair’s successor. The party leader, Sir Menzies
“expectations were too high.” But he added:
Campbell, has tabled a Commons motion calling
“I would not want it any other way. I was, and
on the Queen to dissolve parliament immediately,
remain, an optimist.” Pointing to Africa, climate
since Mr Blair promised to serve a “full third term”
change and globalization, he declared Britain had
in 2005. Mr Brown, facing a financially straitened 
changed under his 10-year leadership, saying:
Labour party and poor opinion polls, is highly 
“Britain is not a follower, Britain is a leader.” He
unlikely to grant that request.
made no reference as to whether he would stay
on as an MP. 10 Mr Blair was unique among Labour leaders in 
winning three successive elections. Although
4 Mr Blair acknowledged he had been accused
announcing before the 2005 contest he would
of “messianic zeal”, but said as prime minister,
serve a “full third term”, a mini­putsch by Labour 
over issues such as Sierra Leone, Kosovo and 
MPs last autumn forced him to confirm he would 
then Afghanistan and Iraq, you were “alone with
stand down within a year. The final act of that 
your instinct”.
saga was enacted today.
5 Earlier, the PM had confirmed to the cabinet he 
would announce his plans to step down, joking
it was “not quite a normal day”. The meeting © Guardian News & Media 2007
ended with the entire cabinet “thumping” the First published in The Guardian, 10/5/07
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NEWS LESSONS / Blair to stand down on June 27 / Advanced

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Blair to stand down on June 27
Level 3 Advanced

3 Comprehension check

Choose the best answer according to the text.

1. How did Blair describe his actions while he was prime minister?
a. He did what his heart told him to do.
b. He did what his head told him to do.
c. He did what he thought was best for the country. TRUE.
<--------------- (c)

2. How did former US secretary of state Colin Powell describe Blair?

a. As a defender of the special relationship between the US and Britain. <---------- (a)
b. As a loyal friend of the US.
c. As a negative factor in public opinion.

3. Why have the Liberal Democrats demanded an immediate general election?
a. Because they think they can win an election at this time.
b. Because Blair promised to serve a full third term. <----------------- (b)
c. Because they want the Queen to dissolve Parliament.

4. People have accused Blair of “messianic zeal”. What does this mean?
a. He was over-enthusiastic in his attempts to change society. <------- (a)
b. He made a lot of serious errors.
c. He worked so hard that he rarely had enough sleep and sometimes lacked energy.

4 Vocabulary 1: Phrasal verbs

Match these phrasal verbs with their definitions.

1. step/stand down (b) a. to begin to do something someone else was doing

2. give up (f) b. to leave a job or position, especially an important one

3. take over (a) c. to take action to do something

4. stay on (e) d. to rely on

5. deal with (c) e. to remain in a job longer than you intended to

6. count on (d) f. to stop doing something you are trying hard to do

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NEWS LESSONS / Blair to stand down on June 27 / Advanced

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Blair to stand down on June 27
Level 3 Advanced

5 Vocabulary 2: Find the word

Look in the text and find these words. 

1. An adjective meaning protected by God. (para 1) blessed

2. An adjective meaning involving a lot of force or energy. (para 2) costly

3. An adjective meaning final. (para 2) ultimate

4. A noun meaning a group of advisers chosen by the leader of a government. (para 5) cabinet

5. A noun meaning effect or influence. (para 7) impact

6. A noun meaning someone who organizes the meetings of a committee. (para 8) convenor

7. A verb meaning to make something legal. (para 9) legitimize

8. A two-word expression meaning having financial problems. (para 9) financial straitened

6 Vocabulary 3: Collocations

Match the words in the left-hand column with the words they go with in the right-hand column.

1. grant (f) a. one’s resignation

2. tender (a) b. parliament

3. table (h) c. criticism

4. high (g) d. change

5. fierce                       e. opinion
(c)

6. climate (d) f. a request

7. public (e) g. expectations

8. dissolve (b) h. a motion

7 Discussion
What do you think of politicians? Can they really change society for the better or are they in politics for selfish 
reasons?
I think the answer depends a lot on wich politician we are describing. There are a lot of politicians who dedicate their lifes
to work in social benefits. On the other hand, some other politicians are in politics only for selfish reasons .
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NEWS LESSONS / Blair to stand down on June 27 / Advanced

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