Bill Clinton (left) meets with Prime Minister Blair (right) in November 1999, with the American leader being a close political partner given their mutual
Atlanticist views and shared emphasis on the
Special Relationship. Politically, Blair has been identified with record investment into public services, an
interventionist and
Atlanticist foreign policy, support for stronger law enforcement powers, a large focus on surveillance as a means to address terrorism and a large focus on education as a means to encourage
social mobility. In the early years (circa 1994–1997), Blairism was also associated with support for
European integration and particularly British participation in the
European single currency, though this waned after Labour took office. The term is used in particular in contrast to
Brownite, to identify those within the Labour Party who supported
Gordon Brown rather than Blair. However, with Blair and Brown typically in agreement on most political issues (from
Iraq to
public sector reform), some commentators have noted that "the difference between Brownites and Blairites [...] is more tribal than ideological". This is believed to stem from a personal disagreement between Blair and Brown over who should run for the leadership following the death of
John Smith in 1994. Though Brown was originally considered the senior of the two, he waited until after Smith's funeral to begin campaigning, by which point Blair had gathered too much momentum to be defeated. However, in his book
Whatever it Takes,
Steve Richards offered an alternate view: that there were significant disagreements between the two about relative poverty, the level of public spending and the potential for choice in public services. In a 1999 article,
The Economist stated: Blair's tenure is known for an expansion of
LGBT rights, such as the introduction of
civil partnerships. Blair told the LGBT organisation
Stonewall that "what has happened is that the culture of the country has changed in a definable way" and that "it's a thing that doesn't just give me a lot of pride, but it has actually brought a lot of joy". Blair has also stated that he got up off his seat and danced upon seeing the first civil partnership ceremonies on television. ==Relationship to prior administrations==