Sunday, May 29, 2016
Tony Blair: a ghost at the feast
Most political leaders follow a golden rule, don't interfere by commenting on your successor. It is a rule more observed in the breach than in the observance as evidenced by the likes of Edward Heath.
Now Tony Blair has jumped in, seeking to mitigate the impact on his reputation of the Chilcott report, due to be published at last on 6th July.
According to the Telegraph, Blair believes that Britain would be embarking on a "very dangerous experiment" if it gave Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn power:
Asked if Mr Corbyn was a product of his, Mr Blair told the BBC's This Week's World: "No, I think it's a result of the way the world works these days, but it's a big challenge for the centre, and when I'm not thinking about the Middle East, I'm thinking about this because I do think, by the way, it would be a very dangerous experiment for a major western country to get gripped by this type of populist policy making, left or right.
"I do think the centre ground needs to work out how it recovers its... gets its mojo back, and gets the initiative back in the political debate because otherwise... these guys aren't providing answers, not on the economy, not on foreign policy."
Well, yes, but Blair is hardly in touch with public opinion anymore.
It is tempting to compare the former Prime Minister with the ghost of Banquo at the feast in Macbeth, except that there would be role reversal involved.
In Macbeth, Banquo appears in ghostly form so as prick the conscience of the new King over his bloody deeds. In real life, and subject to the conclusions of Chilcott of course, it is Blair with blood on his hands.
Now Tony Blair has jumped in, seeking to mitigate the impact on his reputation of the Chilcott report, due to be published at last on 6th July.
According to the Telegraph, Blair believes that Britain would be embarking on a "very dangerous experiment" if it gave Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn power:
Asked if Mr Corbyn was a product of his, Mr Blair told the BBC's This Week's World: "No, I think it's a result of the way the world works these days, but it's a big challenge for the centre, and when I'm not thinking about the Middle East, I'm thinking about this because I do think, by the way, it would be a very dangerous experiment for a major western country to get gripped by this type of populist policy making, left or right.
"I do think the centre ground needs to work out how it recovers its... gets its mojo back, and gets the initiative back in the political debate because otherwise... these guys aren't providing answers, not on the economy, not on foreign policy."
Well, yes, but Blair is hardly in touch with public opinion anymore.
It is tempting to compare the former Prime Minister with the ghost of Banquo at the feast in Macbeth, except that there would be role reversal involved.
In Macbeth, Banquo appears in ghostly form so as prick the conscience of the new King over his bloody deeds. In real life, and subject to the conclusions of Chilcott of course, it is Blair with blood on his hands.
