Endgame

Thatcher's resignation was a moment of high political drama. I still remember the word that "she's gone!" going rapidly around school that day. There doesn't seem much chance of that when Blair finally retires.

I also remember that the reaction to Major's victor in the subsequent leadership contest produced the question "but who is he?" at school. I found this slightly puzzling; I'd certainly been familiar with his name since he became Chancellor and possibly during his brief stint as Foreign Secretary, though my memory is unclear on the latter. I suppose it's possible that there are still a few people left under some rock who've managed to avoid hearing of Gordon Brown before but still.

(Another difference: the likely next Chancellor doesn't have quite such striking eyebrows as Major's first Chancellor did.)