Blair five years on

Five years ago, Mr Blair came to power. How has he done?

As a Liberal Democrat, I'm inevitably partisan, but let me try to be objective.

On the economy, results so far are good. Inflation and interest rates are low. Unemployment has fallen. Employment is at record levels.

Indeed, friends sometimes ask me why Mr Blair remains popular after Labour's many mistakes, from the Dome to rising street crime. Bill Clinton had the answer: "It's the economy, stupid".

There's plenty to complain about. Growth is not balanced, driven by consumers not industry: that may mean trouble ahead. Tax complexity and an overvalued pound are damaging.

Despite this, Labour have managed the economy far more successfully than the Conservatives. This is probably better than people expected in 1997.

Yet, equally, few people would have predicted, five years ago, Labour's lack of progress on public services - health, education, police and public transport.

I hope the latest NHS plans and July's Spending Review will mark significant Government shifts towards investing in these services.

But on the fifth anniversary, people assess what's happened. And on essential public services, Labour's record to date is far from impressive.

Progress in Northern Ireland, smaller primary school classes and international leadership have been pluses. Yet five years from now, people will want to see radical improvements in health and transport and a sharp cut in crime.