The mainstream press on Blair’s “Journey”, or “Journey’s end”, as some would have it

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1st September, 2010

Click to Buy Tony Blair’s ‘A Journey’

The Middle East Peace representative for the Quartet for the last three years and three months Tony Blair arrived in Washington yesterday for the first meeting of Israelis and Palestinians for over two years.

But first, with regard to the “journey’s end” jibe – the anti-Iraq war Independent’s choice phrase – today Mr Blair is, correct me if I’m wrong, the only European at the Washington peace talks

Perhaps, dear Indy, his journey is NOT yet over.

Watch a clip of tonight’s interview with Andrew Marr

I managed to see it in the end. It was fine. Not a lot I haven’t heard before, to be blunt, but a reminder of what clarity of leadership was like. I imagine the Old Labourites will be upset that he doesn’t want “to make trouble for Mr Cameron”. But there we go. Your new man, or Diane (who he said he would fully support if she became leader) will be doing that job, no doubt.

Thought it was worth looking at the front pages of most of our papers. Just so you get a feeling for their angles. If you didn’t already know.

THE FRONT PAGES

As is to be expected (after all we ALL have our own opinions, even agendas, DON’T we?) most of the press has hooked onto their favourite anti-Blair positions.

For instance, The Independent has on its front page – “Journey’s End”, with four quotes from Tony Blair, including -

“The soldiers have died and I, the decision-maker, still live.”

Not that the peace-loving, anti-violence Independent is suggesting anything, mind. Whatever you do, Mr Blair, don’t feel guilty for still living.  Most soldiers’ families do NOT think in those terms, anyway. Those who do probably have other agendas.

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At the once Labour-supporting Guardian (supported the Lib-Dems in May election) -

“I knew Brown premiership would be a disaster for Labour”

The Guardian’s Andrew Sparrow has ongoing updates as he reads through the book. Quite a few interesting quotes there, and other links in reference to “A Journey”.

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Gordon Brown threatened Tony Blair with an internal investigation into the cash for honours business, unless he dropped Pension Reform. Blair did not drop the reform. The Police investigated the nonsensical honours business for 20 long months. No charges followed.

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The Times dwells on Blair’s thoughts on “why Labour lost”

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At the FT there is a picture of Mr Blair being interviewed. They also dwell on his contention that the rejection of New Labour lost them the election.

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The Daily Maul. Blair’s tears are, of course, decried. They are still looking for an apology. An APOLOGY for WHAT? For the Iraq war? The decision that he only won IN PARLIAMENT because of Tory (Daily Mail) support?

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Purely coincidental, I’m sure, today the Daily Mirror has come out in support of David Miliband.

More to follow on the analysis of Blair’s Journey.

Related

• Independent: Finally, Tony Blair reveals his side of the feud with Gordon Brown
• New York Daily News: ‘Blair: Princess Diana, a manipulator’
• Telegraph: Tony Blair on sex, politics and alcohol
• New York Times on Blair’s book
• The New York Post  has the first of the ‘Blair-y Eyed Drunk’ coverage I’ve found online  (where ARE you the Mail/the Sun?)
• The BBC’s James Landale has some interesting points here on the memoir fallout and on the Labour leadership
• BBC: On Northern Ireland, Blair says he “stretched truth” for peace. (To jail with him! Hang the liar!!!)
• Tony Blair on Diana, fox-hunting and Iraq (channel4.com)
• Tony Blair memoir: Alastair Campbell defends former boss (guardian.co.uk)

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Tags: Andrew Marr, Daily Mirror, David Miliband, Diane Abbott, ed balls, Gordon Brown, Independent, labour, Middle East, New York Post, New York Times, Northern Ireland, politics, prime minister, Tony Blair, Warfare and Conflict