Tony Blair

[Park Life 71]

Tony Blair's memoirs: The making of a best-seller

Cynical stunt, a ploy to wipe the slate clean or an honest attempt to make amends? Robert Mendick examines the strange birth of Tony Blair’s memoirs and the good deed that has shocked a nation

 

 

Published: 8:50AM BST 22 Aug 2010

Tories call for inquiry into Tony Blair's charities

Mr Blair has set up a series of companies and charities since leaving office two years ago Photo: REUTERS

 

The telephone call to the Royal British Legion came out of the blue. The female voice on the other end of the line wanted to know whether the charity was willing to accept a donation from a wealthy benefactor, whose identity she was not – at that stage – at liberty to divulge. Chris Simpkins, the charity’s director general, explained that the British Legion was happy to take all donations not in breach of its charter. The woman listened intently before informing Mr Simpkins she would get back to him.

 

Two hours later the mystery woman called again. Identifying herself as Catherine Rimmer, she said she could now reveal that she worked on behalf of Tony Blair and that he wanted to donate to the Legion the proceeds from his forthcoming autobiography. The final amount would depend on sales, explained Miss Rimmer, but would be in the region of £4- to £5 million. The boss of the Legion could not believe his ears. Mr Blair was promising to give his charity its largest ever single donation.

 

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics...est-seller.html

[Guest alex]

It's almost like he feels guilty about something he's done in his past.

[JawD 99]

It's almost like he feels guilty about something he's done in his past.

 

Well what could he possibly feel guilty about? Not like some governments who have blood on their hands.

[Renton 22436]

Damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.

[Guest alex]

Damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.

True but I think he should be damned by his past deeds personally.

[Renton 22436]

Damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.

True but I think he should be damned by his past deeds personally.

 

Not going to disagree. The Iraq war was a massive low point of the last government for me, following by Blair's educational reforms. Mind, have you seen him recently, he seems to have aged 100 years. Maybe the guilt is catching up with him.

[Guest alex]

Damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.

True but I think he should be damned by his past deeds personally.

 

Not going to disagree. The Iraq war was a massive low point of the last government for me, following by Blair's educational reforms. Mind, have you seen him recently, he seems to have aged 100 years. Maybe the guilt is catching up with him.

I haven't but he aged noticeably (understandable like) when he was PM. Quite scarily in fact.

[Renton 22436]

[SloopJohn 0]

new labour was an utter fucking disaster, i can barely think of one part of their policies that were successful except managing to systematically remove nearly all our basic human rights without anyone batting an eyelid

[Renton 22436]

new labour was an utter fucking disaster, i can barely think of one part of their policies that were successful except managing to systematically remove nearly all our basic human rights without anyone batting an eyelid

 

Name one basic human right that has been removed then.

 

As for not being successful, how old are you? I get the impression you have grown up in a post 1980s world.

[SloopJohn 0]

Terrorism Act 2000? Where one can be detained for up to 30 days without a trial?

[ChezGiven 0]

3 New Labour succeses of the top of my head. Healthcare funding, regeneration of the provincial cities, minimum wage.

[Renton 22436]

Terrorism Act 2000? Where one can be detained for up to 30 days without a trial?

 

I can see how badly that must have affected you.

 

You said nearly all your human rights have been removed, so I am sure you must have dozens of better examples, please feel free to elaborate.

 

It's a bit ironic actually as one of the main criticisms of New Labour has been allowing people too many human rights.

[Guest alex]

new labour was an utter fucking disaster, i can barely think of one part of their policies that were successful except managing to systematically remove nearly all our basic human rights without anyone batting an eyelid

Not happy with some of their 'counter terrorism' moves myself but that's a bit of a stretch

[ewerk 31596]

Aye, the Human Rights Act was a kick in the teeth for civil liberties.