No he isn't crazy, but ever since Tony Blair emerged from the protection of his
media minders he has come across as politically unhinged, as if permanently scarred by the lunatic mess that is modern political life. From the BBC
Tony Blair has defended his call for new controls on EU migration as a cabinet minister accused him of a belated "epiphany" on the issue.
The ex-PM said the UK could stay in the EU after all with new curbs in place.
He claimed this would address people's "grievances" without the "sledgehammer" of Brexit.
Critics have pointed to his Labour government's decision not to apply transitional controls to eastern European migrants in 2004.
Tony Blair has defended his call for new controls on EU migration as a cabinet minister accused him of a belated "epiphany" on the issue.
The ex-PM said the UK could stay in the EU after all with new curbs in place.
He claimed this would address people's "grievances" without the "sledgehammer" of Brexit.
Critics have pointed to his Labour government's decision not to apply transitional controls to eastern European migrants in 2004.
Voices from the political
past rarely manage to break through into the politics of today because they
have generally said whatever they are able to say and people have done listening to them anyway. Blair should know that but apparently doesn't Still bleating about his lost vision of whatever it is
that drives him – who could possibly be interested now? Media outlets with space to
fill and a Europhile readership to prod, but nobody else.
Sometimes when people retire they are prepared to say what
they would not have said before, particularly about their previous employment
and expertise. Sometimes they let a little light into those murky areas
protected by PR, compliant media and the financial loyalty of employees. Sometimes.
Not political leaders though. Apart from back-stabbing memoirs they generally seem wedded to the same
old songs even though they should know how threadbare it all was. One might
almost imagine that their public profile has burned the songs into their souls, as if they actually believe what they must once have known was dubious at best.
This level of intense exposure, this political imperative to stick to a
narrative and beat down all opposition, all doubt and all uncertainty – it seems to
leave its mark. It seems to send people crazy, as if they cannot bring
themselves to leave the stage and watch the show from the other side of the
footlights. We would all benefit if they did.
6 comments:
All the old fools like Clarke, Major, Heseltine are at it.
Such a sorry old bunch of losers, wandering around with a can of super-strength, and nobody really gives a damn...
I read recently that he might be desperate for a nice high-status Euro-job, and that this might be an attempt to keep the UK in the club, and thereby win the undying gratitude of those who decide such things.
I've read two or three biographies of Blair, and it struck me while reading them that he might indeed be the first clinically insane person to occupy no. 10. Of course, the authors of those biographies had axes to grind, but I've never had the same feeling while reading about other Prime ministers. Tom Bower's biog is immaculately referenced, and many people report Blair as saying and doing some very strange things.
On balance, I'd say he was an unprincipled chancer from the outset, and that the enormous pressures he experienced didn't do much to improve his character or judgement.
I've only just commented on Raedwald's reference to matthew Norman's latest in The Independent, as follows:
"It's just saying the obvious, far too late. I was asking friends out of the blue in 1999 whether they thought Blair was mad; and although I was in a bomb-proof absentee-landlord Labour constituency I voted Conservative for the first time in my life in 2000, just to make a point that obviously no-one would notice. In the same way I voted Leave without any hope - especially after the murder of Jo Cox - that a majority would do the same. The best phrase I've seen recently about TB is "unflushable turd". Maybe he keeps trying in the hope of some kind of secular redemption - saved by love of people the other side of the footlights that he'll never meet."
He seems to me a man desperately fighting against a message from his subconscious. I am torn between anger and pity.
One he is easily led and fed needs to be loved. Two he married Cherie a lawyer who not only is a lecturer but lectures everybody about everything. Three she is the daughter of an actor, Tony Booth, who has opinions on everything, pity about the acting. Four she is a scouser. Need I say more?
He cannot grasp that he is universally detested.
Scrobs - they are all at it and all they do is reminds us of how inadequate they were.
Sam - crikey, two or three biographies of Blair? I don't read modern biographies but I might give Tom Bower's a go because it is important to understand Blair and what he represents.
Sackers - "I am torn between anger and pity." Interesting comment - I'm sure I know just what you mean because history may well judge Blair as a failure.
Demetrius - I've sometimes wondered about the Tony Booth link. Never liked him.
James - maybe he dare not grasp it.
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