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# What a relief
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/what-a-relief/
- Published: 2007-07-25T13:07:48.000Z
- Updated: 2019-02-14T22:36:53.000Z
- Author: openDemocracy Supporters
- Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 18:23

**Anthony Barnett (London,** [**OK**](http://ourkingdom.opendemocracy.net/?ref=opendemocracy.net)**):** I've been challenged, what is all this about the 'relief' of having Brown? Just imagine the chagrin of Tony Blair as he looks at the images of our Kingdom under water and thinks what he would have done. Why, he’d have stripped to his costume and donned a life-vest to join the relief effort; he'd have declared on behalf of us all his empathy with those who had lost everything (and could not go to Cliff Richards' home in the West Indies to dry off); he’d have declared that this was the people’s flood, showing – his upper lip quivering – how strong and understated was traditional British bravery; he’d have had that ‘water baby’ in his arms; he’d have declared, selflessly and for our sakes, that, as the country needed him, he could not possibly resign until the waters subsided.