Blair"When Tony Blair entered Downing Street on 2 May 1997, Britain seemed a different place. On the brilliant spring day the country suddenly appeared fresher, brighter - a marked contrast to the greyness of the dog days of Tory rule." "That early optimism was in large part a reaction to the personality of Blair himself. Public school, Oxford and a career at the Bar had helped make him the acceptable face of a Labour Party he had already modernised beyond recognition. His charisma, drive and 'newness' won two successive three-figure majorities. But with the triumphs have come allegations of arrogance, of hubris. From the over-promising of delivery on public services to the crusading zeal of his foreign policy, Blair seemed to think he could solve all of the country's - and the world's - problems. But his two terms have been dogged by a sense of disappointment, as the sense of expectation about his government's potential has become mired in the eternal conflict between tax and spend as well as uncertainty over Britain's role in Europe and a world now ruled by US primacy and pre-emption." "What has happened to that early optimism? Are the allegations of arrogance an inevitable consequence of supreme, almost presidential power, or were these traits always there? We know Blair is a religious man, but what really motivates him? Is he, as has been suggested, merely obsessed with his place in history?" "Rejecting the constraints of formal biography, Anthony Seldon has produced a profile of the Prime Minister that rewrites the bibliography of Blair studies. Focusing on the interplay between the key turning points of his life and career and the key personalities with whom he has surrounded himself, it assesses the Blair psychology in all its forms and explains the motivation of the man destined to be the last British Prime Minister to command a world stage. It also draws on previously unpublished diaries and documents and is based on over 600 original interviews with those who have known and worked with Blair, including many at the heart of government."--BOOK JACKET. |
Contents
Fathers Stroke 195371 | 3 |
Father and Mother | 17 |
Oxford and Loss of Mother 197175 | 25 |
Copyright | |
24 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
1992 General Election achieve agenda Alastair Alastair Campbell Andrew Rawnsley Anji Anji Hunter Ashdown attack became become began believed Blair and Brown Britain British Bush Bush's campaign Campbell Campbell's Cherie Cherie's Clause IV Clinton close conference David decision Democrats Diary Downing Street early election electoral Euro Falconer favour felt figure going Gordon Brown Gould Guardian Hattersley helped Hunter Interview Iraq Irvine Jenkins John Jonathan Powell Kampfner Kinnock Kosovo Labour Party later leader leadership London Lord major Mandelson meeting modernising Neil Kinnock never Northern Ireland Number Peter Peter Mandelson plans political Powell premiership Prescott Prime Minister Private correspondence Rawnsley realised reform relationship Rentoul role Roy Jenkins Saddam second term Secretary Sedgefield senior shadow Cabinet Smith speech Sunday talk Thatcher thinking thought told Tony Blair Tories Treasury unions vote wanted Whelan