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History will be kind to Tony Blair

It was only 13 years ago that an exuberant and fresh-faced Tony Blair led New Labour to a dazzling victory, but it feels like it happened in another age. The publication of Blair’s memoir, A Journey, has caused a flurry of press coverage, with some pundits arguing that Blair ranks among Britain’s greatest prime ministers by virtue of his bold social reforms and popular touch. Others have a more negative view of his talents: on the right, many claim that he presided over an erosion of social values, and on the left, few can forgive him for overruling popular opinion in invading Iraq.

In a reflection of Blair’s radical distortion of the traditional left/right spectrum of British politics, supporters and detractors can be found in a multitude of political standpoints. No sooner has a hard-right commentator praised his tough stance on crime than a centre-left Brownite casts aspersions on his economic nous. For now, Iraq appears to be the one burning issue of Blair’s time in office.