Tony Blair Facts

Tony Blair completed his education from Chorister School, Durham and Fettes College, Edinburgh. Teachers and fellow students report that he was a huge Mick Jagger fan. In fact, his teachers go on record to say, " they were very glad to see the back of him". Blair spent a year trying his luck as a rock music promoter, after college. Without much luck, he went on to pursue jurisprudence at St John's College. He used to play the guitar and even sang with the Ugly Rumours.

Period of Change:

Blair was very influenced by a colleague, who was also an Anglican priest, Peter Thomson. Thomson played a major role in evoking deep religious faith and interest in the left wing ideology. He went on to graduate from Oxford with a Second Class Honours BA in 1976. He met Cherie Booth, his future wife when he enrolled as barrister at the Chambers. Blair and Cherie have four children. Blair was always vocal about his ambition to become Prime Minister.

As Prime Minister:

Tony Blair extensively modernized the Labor party. The term "New Labor" was adopted. Old policies were abandoned to create space for setting of 'minimum wage'. "New Labor" enjoyed a landslide victory in 1997, ending the rule of the Conservatives for 18 years! Alongside being elected Prime Minister, Tony Blair also served as First Lord of Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Privy Counsellor. At 43, Blair became the youngest Prime Minister since Lord Liverpool. Blair is a leader within a political arena that is overshadowed by controversies. But, his persona and charisma saw him sail through three consecutive election victories. Tony Blair was honored in 2003, with the Congressional Gold Medal.He was instrumental in aligning Britain with the US in Iraq war. He committed political and military help without considering the opposition being expressed by the British public. Blair supported a British exit from the EEC, and strongly supported nuclear disarmament that is unilateral in nature. He also declared himself a socialist, who supports cooperation instead of confrontation. This outlook was responsible for the Labor Party changing Clause IV, becoming a democratic socialist party rather than a social democratic party. Blair openly voiced against issues like:

• Conservative Public Order White Paper
• Bank of England's rescue of Johnson Matthey in 1985
• Policies of city traders at the London Stock Exchange
• Death Penalty
• Common ownership of the means of production

He supported:

• Public spending on health and education
• Market-based reforms
• Constitutional reform such as devolution
• Subtle tax increases
• Northern Ireland Peace Process
• War on Terrorism
• United States foreign policy
• Peace Valley plan

The Decline:

His political stance suffered a set back following severe opposition to the Iraq war, fraud involving an arms deal with Saudi Arabia, party rebellion and the Cash for Honours scandal. In 2007, Blair was replaced by Gordon Brown.

Current Contributions:

When Tony Blair stood down from his position as Prime Minister, he was appointed Official Envoy of the United Nations, to the Quartet on the Middle East. He represented the European Union, Russia and the United States in this capacity. In 2007, the Tony Blair Sports Foundation was launched to increase participation in sports-related activities. The Blair Faith Foundation launched in 2008 is a rostrum for people of different faiths to come together and promote an understanding. Blair is the first Prime Minister who did not issue the Resignation Honours, post resignation.