I suspect that anyone who has chanced upon these blogs over recent years couldn't help but notice that, even though I admit to admiring many of the tenets upon which The Labour Party is based, I'm of the opinion that the greatest problem with socialism is socialists; and, in particular, the manner in which so many of them turn their back on their working-class principles once they have sampled the trappings associated with power. Think John Prescott; remember him? He's the one who spent a lifetime campaigning against The House of Lords and then accepted a peerage to appease his wife when she found out that he had been servicing his diary secretary.
Tony Blair, however, could never have been accused of being a socialist (IMHO). Influenced, to a large extent, by his working-class wife; and, also, by the subtle realisation that his privileged background and education would give him a distinct advantage over many of his colleagues if he chose to become a Labour MP - as opposed to a Tory - he soon found a place in the shadow cabinet in the early eighties.
As it happened, Neil Kinnock wasn't the only person who had been impressed with Mr. Blair's presentation skills. Film and theatre director Richard Eyre opined that "Blair had a very considerable skill as a performer"; and, it is with that point of view in mind that I turn my attention to yesterday's Chilcot Report; and, in particular, the vitriol which is being directed towards Mr. Blair.
In my view, those who criticise Mr. Blair seem to have lost sight of the fact that he is, arguably, the UK's finest actor since Laurence Olivier and the skill with which he presented the case in his own defence was a master-class which should become required study-matter for all would-be thespians of this generation and those to come. No wonder those silky skills have earned him a king's ransom; especially on the other side of the pond - according to the recent TV documentary, "The Blair Rich Project".
Tony Blair, however, could never have been accused of being a socialist (IMHO). Influenced, to a large extent, by his working-class wife; and, also, by the subtle realisation that his privileged background and education would give him a distinct advantage over many of his colleagues if he chose to become a Labour MP - as opposed to a Tory - he soon found a place in the shadow cabinet in the early eighties.
As it happened, Neil Kinnock wasn't the only person who had been impressed with Mr. Blair's presentation skills. Film and theatre director Richard Eyre opined that "Blair had a very considerable skill as a performer"; and, it is with that point of view in mind that I turn my attention to yesterday's Chilcot Report; and, in particular, the vitriol which is being directed towards Mr. Blair.
In my view, those who criticise Mr. Blair seem to have lost sight of the fact that he is, arguably, the UK's finest actor since Laurence Olivier and the skill with which he presented the case in his own defence was a master-class which should become required study-matter for all would-be thespians of this generation and those to come. No wonder those silky skills have earned him a king's ransom; especially on the other side of the pond - according to the recent TV documentary, "The Blair Rich Project".
