The Tony Blair Era is Over…
Tony Blair formally resigned as UK Prime Minister earlier today, before the Queen invited Gordon Brown to begin forming a new government. Prime Minister Brown entered 10 Downing Street shortly afterwards (more on that to come…).
Blair’s last act as Prime Minister was to face his final “Prime Minister’s Questions” in the House of Commons. This weekly session is usually great theater – albeit more as an (entertaining) opportunity for political point scoring between the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition than for the quality of the policy debate. But this week, we were treated to the unusual sight of a British Prime Minister leaving office, largely on his/her own terms, and without their party in open revolt.
What took place was striking for its aura of respect and good nature: Conservative leader David Cameron, like other party leaders that followed, asked a series of largely apolitical questions and chose to praise Blair’s achievements and approach. Blair seemingly enjoyed the occasion, joking about his impending unemployment, and dismissing one question from a renowned skeptic of Britain’s place in the European Union by wishing the questioner “au revoir, auf wiedersehen and arrivederci”.
Finally, precipitating an extremely unusual standing ovation across party boundaries (applause is rarely heard in the British Parliament), Blair signed off by saying ” I wish everyone, friend or foe, well. That is that. The end.”
And so, it seemed, it was.
Blair’s “unemployment” was, however, short-lived - he has since been appointed as Middle East envoy on behalf of the EU, U.S., Russia and the Untied Nations. In anticipation of his assuming that post, Northern Ireland First Minister Ian Paisley spoke for many by drawing a parallel with one of Blair’s biggest successes in office – remarking: “The Prime Minister begins another colossal task. I hope that what happened in Northern Ireland will be repeated and that, at the end of the day, he can look back and say that it was well worth while.”
Indeed.