Tony Blair

COMING SOON!

He has modernised the Labour Party, and consequently won three General Elections. But have his charisma and spindoctors helped to deflect the public's attention away from major issues such as the NHS and the war on terrorism?

Biography

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Tony Blair
born: 06-05-1953
birth place: Edinburgh, Scotland

In government Blair has been notable for his commitment to business interests. He will probably be best remembered for the introduction of university tuition fees, and for market reforms to the NHS and social services. He has also been criticised for his attachment to media manipulation and ‘spin’.

Blair also presided over the British involvement in the Kosovan War, and was the only Prime Minister of the 20th century to father a child while in office.

Despite a drastically reduced turnout in the 2001 UK general election, the Labour Party preserved its majority. Blair became the first Labour Prime Minister to serve two consecutive terms.

Following the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre on 11 September 2001, Blair was quick to align Britain with the US, specifically involving the country in the hugely controversial campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. This cost him a substantial percentage of his popular support.

On a more positive note, his contribution towards assisting the Northern Ireland Peace Process by helping to negotiate the Good Friday Agreement after 30 years of conflict is widely recognised.[

On 10 May 2007, Blair announced during a speech at the Trimdon Labour Club in his Sedgefield constituency his intention to resign as Labour Party leader and that he will tender his resignation as Prime Minister on 27 June 2007. He was replaced by Gordon Brown.

Blair is married to barrister Cherie Booth. They have three sons and one daughter.

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