MASSIVE ATTACK
In the mid 1990s, British culture and politics were thriving like they had not been since the Swinging Sixties. On May 1, 1997, the United Kingdom underwent a huge political turning point when, after the long Tory domination in Parliament, New Labour led by Tony Blair won the general election, with their most comfortable majority since 1935. Blair became Prime Minister and in July the new Chancellor, Gordon Brown, set the budget with a new vision. He planned to increase spending on education and healthcare by £3 million, and to help single mothers and unemployed youth.
Moreover, the government negotiated a renewal of the ceasefire in Northern Ireland in August, a historic deal that would lead to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. The only cloud in Britain’s sky in 1997 seemed to be the tragic death of Princess Diana in Paris on August 31.