Tony Blair

Tarnished by Iraq and Mandelson - but two new books show they made millions of lives better

A new documentary reminds us of what a consummate politician he was - and how much his achievements are tarnished by Iraq

Didcot in Oxfordshire is known as the most ‘normal’ town in England – and also symbolises the emergence of a new, liberal England

In Kosovo, there’s a statue to a former British PM, where he’s regarded as a hero. But if you want to see it, you need to take the bus

Government and culture do not mix.. just look what happened last time

The electorate will see through any attempt to frighten them into yet another period of government by the doomed Tories

The role of Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern during the talks, to this day, simply cannot be overstated

The former prime minister’s Future of Britain conference was a reminder of why politics must be better

There is more anger, passion and insight to be had in just a few minutes of this show than any number of hours sitting through a James Graham political play

WILL SELF on the British government's betrayal of Afghanistan

Theresa May has been rated as one of the worst two post-war prime ministers in a survey of UK university academics specialising in British politics and contemporary British history.

The former health secretary’s other misdeeds may have attracted more headlines, but the use of private email and WhatsApp for government business is a serious concern

Boris Johnson’s faults and failings are blindingly obvious, but the media don’t seem interested in that story It was a great question. “When the history books are written, will Boris Johnson still get away with it?” It was asked by a woman in the Q and A when I spoke at the Wimbledon Book Festival, […]

Sir Keir Starmer should avoid turning Labour into a “Blairite tribute band”, former shadow chancellor John McDonnell has warned. He told BBC Two’s Newsnight the party should become more radical following setbacks in recent elections. McDonnell, who stood down from the shadow cabinet in 2019, claimed there was “disillusionment” with Labour, “particularly among younger people”. A […]

Tony Blair has launched a scathing attack on the “woke left” and warned the Labour Party faced electoral oblivion if it did not start ‘cutting through’ to voters.   Blair, a former Labour prime minister, said May’s dismal election results showed the party needed a “total deconstruction and reconstruction. Nothing less will do.” Writing in the New Statesman, Blair […]

The slow comeback of normal life is wonderful, it does tend to feel as hollow as a leftover Easter egg when also coming back rapidly is tension in Belfast and Derry. “It has been a gloomy week on the sunlit uplands of sovereign Britain,” is how this column starts every week, but how can that […]

Tony Blair has said he did not enjoy being the UK prime minister due to the huge responsibility it entailed. Blair, who was prime minister between 1997 and 2007, also said it was “crazy” that the experience required for the role is so “nugatory”. The comments were made during an interview with BBC Radio 4 […]

In these exclusive extracts from his diaries, ALASTAIR CAMPBELL describes the aftermath of the Leveson inquiry. Thursday, November 29  The Leveson report is published, saying the press should set up a tough new independent regulator, underpinned by statute. It found: no widespread corruption of police by the press; that politicians and press have been too close; and that press behaviour, […]

In these exclusive extracts from his diaries, ALASTAIR CAMPBELL recalls meeting David Cameron’s director of communications Craig Oliver. He felt Ed Miliband was outperforming his man.  Friday, May 18 Met Craig Oliver (Cameron’s communications director). Jeremy Heywood [cabinet secretary] still hadn’t replied to my complaint re. Cameron [Campbell had accused the PM of seeking to deflect criticism over Coulson […]

In these exclusive extracts from his diaries, ALASTAIR CAMPBELL takes us back to the autumn of 2011: David Cameron leads a coalition government with Nick Clegg as his deputy; Boris Johnson is the celebrity mayor of London; Barack Obama is in the White House; and Britain is in the EU. While the London Olympics are on the horizon, politics is dominated by […]

England should impose a “traffic light system” for re-opening various sectors of the economy, Tony Blair has advised in a report published by his thinktank, the Tony Blair Institute (TBI). The former Labour prime minister weighed into the lockdown debate by publishing his own plans on how the nations should ease restrictions. The plan includes a […]

Former education secretary DAVID BLUNKETT says the government has failed to appreciate the scale of the damage the pandemic is inflicting on children’s prospects. The British, or more accurately the English, handling of the Covid pandemic has thrown up two markedly different levels of success and competence. I’m not talking here about the fiascos relating […]

Former minister Jeremy Hunt has warned that Keir Starmer is the biggest threat to the Tories since Tony Blair. Hunt claimed that the UK can have a “1948 moment” in rebuilding the country after the Covid-19 pandemic, providing an opportunity for the country to reform in a similar way to Clement Attlee’s Labour government after […]

Nigel Farage has said Tony Blair should lead the UK’s vaccination programme, adding the former Labour prime minister “commands respect” and is “seriously bright”. Expressing his frustration with Boris Johnson’s latest lockdown announcement, Farage took to Twitter with a suggestion on how to speed up Britain’s vaccination drive. Describing the current cabinet as the “most low grade […]

The Conservatives should be a “little bit nervous” about Keir Starmer’s leadership of the Labour Party, Spectator editor Fraser Nelson has told a panel on the BBC’s Question Time. Saying he was “pretty impressed” by Starmer, Nelson was commenting on his handling of anti-Semitism in the Labour Party. He explained: “I have to say I think Keir Starmer […]

Recent developments in the Middle East do not represent a significant shift towards the settling of the fundamental problems that still blight the region, says PAUL KNOTT The recent agreements normalising relations with some small Arab states are a success for Israel. For decades, it has sought recognition from the Arab world while avoiding making […]

A new poll from YouGov has seen Keir Starmer’s perception with the public rise again with 37% now believing he would make the best prime minister. It is an increase of two points compared to a week ago, whilst Boris Johnson has failed to change opinion this week, remaining static on just 30% of support. The […]