Comment at end
16th September, 2009
RUTH GLEDHILL ON BLAIR -
“DIVERSITY’S SAVIOUR”
is “THE REAL THING”
( SNEERless – PEERless)
I very much approve of Ruth Gledhill (left), the Religion correspondent at The Times (full report here)
When it comes to reporting on Tony Blair she is one of the few British journalists lacking the usually requisite cynical gene.
Anyone who leads a story with - “it was profoundly moving to see how grateful to him the people at the awards dinner were … time and again”, is a good journalist in my book. Not because she was ‘moved’ and so is clearly sensitive. Nor because I agree with her and those who appreciate Tony Blair; but because she is reporting accurately. That grateful feeling was the main one emanating from the London gathering, by all accounts.
Put aside her mention of the “negative stuff ” (she only referred to his houses and lack of poverty as negative, so that’s nothing much, imho), this kind of sensible reporting from ANY member of the British press is a refreshing novelty.
We do not hear enough good reports about Blair’s habitually good receptions wherever and whenever he speaks.
Isn’t it time we did?
See: Blair – “I dont miss the execution table” (PMQs)
http://keeptonyblairforpm.wordpress.com/2009/09/16/blair-i-dont-miss-the-execution-table-pmqs/
Tony Blair: diversity’s saviour
Gledhill: (my bolding)
“Last night Tony Blair was speaking at the GG2 diversity awards, known as the ‘ethnic Oscars’. It was profoundly moving to see how grateful to him the people at the awards dinner were. Time and again, we heard how life for minorities had been transformed in Britain over the last 15 years.
The day Tony Blair was elected Prime Minister, I went off to interview his spiritual mentor, the Rev Peter Thompson. Thompson, presciently, wanted to emphasise most that Blair was ‘genuine’. He told me: ‘He’s the real thing.’ Times archives have kindly resurrected that article for you to read here.
Many people have subsequently challenged such assumptions. And while Blair might now have disappeared off the day-to-day political agenda, he is daily looming larger in the world of religion because of his Faith Foundation.
Perhaps those of us in the majority mainstream have forgotten too quickly what it actually like, especially for black people and gay people, in Britain two decades ago. But they haven’t, especially the older ones. In this area, especially, Thompson was right. Blair is the real thing. Although on religion in particular, Blair is still struggling a little to find his voice – he doesn’t seem quite sure whether he is a bishop or a politician as yet, or which bit of both he combines – I am confident that Thompson will in time be proved right and that Blair’s mission will be the ‘real thing’ in the broader arenas of faith and international affairs as well.
The event was hosted by comedian Hardeep Singh Kohli, who conducted his own little diversity test on me when I asked him to tell a joke. Did I pass? Find out here.
Kalpesh Solanki, group managing director of the Asian Media and Marketing Group which publishes the GG2 Asian magazine, spoke powerfully about God and religion and warned that the advances of the past decade and a half were in danger of being undone. He described how Blair had changed Britain for the better for minorities.
Perhaps this will be his true legacy. While the negative stuff should not get forgotten (how many grand houses does one family need for goodness sake and isn’t there something in Catholic teaching about the virtue of poverty?) he certainly deserves to be remembered for this as well. ‘Part of his legacy will be putting diversity where it belonged, championing diversity with gusto,’ said Solanki. ‘Think back 15 years. We lived in a very much less inclusive society that we do now.’
There was an amusing moment at the end of his interview with television presenter Liza Aziz. She asked him if he was now spending more time with his family.
For just a second, the famous charm slipped and Blair looked extremely cross. (Honestly, we journalists! How dare we!)
He said he had told her backstage not to ask him about his family. (Honestly these politicians, how dare they! Well done Liza!)
If he said he was spending more time with his family, he confessed, Cherie, shimmering in a sparkly dress on the top table near the stage, would ‘probably get up and throw something at me.’ He said: ‘It’s been difficult. I’ve been travelling so much.’
Thinking back to all those happy family photos at Number 10, it seems that he might be one of the few politicians who has stepped down from high office to spend less time with his family.
Follow Ruth Gledhill on Twitter.
Technorati Tags: Faith Foundation, GG2, Kalpesh Solanki, Tony Blair
Tags: ethnic oscars, GG2 diversity awards, Ruth Gledhill, Times, Tony Blair
