6th September 2010
POLL VOTE – SHOULD BLAIR CANCEL BOOK-SIGNING? (vote here)
Click to Buy Tony Blair’s ‘A Journey’
I really do hope this book-signing isn’t cancelled. Not because I was going. Too busy this week, and I have the book already.
LONDON, SEPTEMBER 6th: Tony Blair leaves Millbank Studios after taking part in television interviews. Mr Blair has suggested that he may have to cancel a book signing planned for Wednesday 8th, following a similar event in Dublin over the weekend when four protesters were arrested after throwing eggs and shoes at the former Prime Minister. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
In an interview with Eamonn Holmes on SKY this morning – [Tony Blair interview watch here] – Mr Blair made it clear that there is some re-consideration of the second of his book signings, the one planned for Wednesday at Waterstone’s in London.
But I’d like to make a couple of points here: many, many British citizens think it is time these riotous anti-Iraq war demonstrators’ rights were treated in proportion to the rights of the rest of us. Indeed some suggest that it is they who should be locked up, and not the former prime minister. There is also a growing resentment that even after three years out of office Mr Blair is still not free to travel and speak in his own country. The rest of us, it seems, are not permitted to hear or see him for fear of this vocal and virulent minority.
If this book-signing is cancelled this will be seen as a victory for the riotous and violent anarchists and Socialist Worker associates who disrupted Saturday’s Dublin signing at Eason’s. (See here) And, of course, that argument would have legs.
REASONS FOR THIS RE-CONSIDERATION
It may be that the MET Police themselves have asked for this re-consideration, rather than the former prime minister. The last thing anyone wants is an outcome where for instance people are injured, traffic is hugely disrupted in central London or many are arrested for disturbances of the peace. Another citizen’s arrest attempt too may figure in some of the concerned minds.
It seems a final decision will be taken later today.
Watch this space. (Will update here as and when.)
UPDATE
A man punches a mannequin dressed up as former British Prime Minister Tony Blair outside the ITV Studios in London, on September 6, 2010, as Blair arrives at the studios for a scheduled interview about hs new book; 'A Journey'. (Photo credit: Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images)
AFRICAN “HELLACAUST”!?
What the hell’s THAT? Whatever it is, to the brain-dead it’s clearly Blair’s doing too. FGS. What utter tripe.
These creatures think they have the right to pursue Tony Blair for the rest of his life over a political decision or several with which they did not agree.
Posters are displayed with the words 'Bliar War Crimes' in the window of a building opposite the ITV Studios in London, on September 6, 2010, as former British Prime Minister Tony Blair arrives at the studios for a scheduled interview about hs new book 'A Journey'. (Photo credit: Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images)
THEY DO NOT HAVE THIS RIGHT. THEY SHOULD NOT BE PERMITTED TO BULLY AND HARASS HIM LIKE THIS, even if he accepts it as “part of politics today”.
When he arrived at the ITV studio this morning for an interview he was met by this sign in a building opposite.
As he entered the studios he must have know that they had forced him to reconsider his book-signing on Wednesday.
Don’t let the haters and so-called peace-lovers win in our democracy. This is important.
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RELATED
- 1. The Independent reports on this, and on other aspects of the Return, or Not, of THE BLAIR.
Excerpt:
“The book is selling fantastically. There are people – particularly now the BNP apparently say they want to get in on the action – you end up just causing a lot of hassle for people and cost when there are better things for the police to do and it’s not as if we need to do it.
“It is sad at the same time, frankly. If people want to have a book signed, people should protest but not try and physically prevent you doing it.”
Mr Blair conceded it would be “very difficult” for him to return to political life but said he would “love to” be involved in some way.
Asked about apparent hints of a comeback, he said: “What did I have in mind when I said that? I don’t know actually because I am sure it would be very difficult for me to play a part here.
“But what I really wanted to say was that I remain deeply committed to the country. I love this country and I want to see it do well.”
His “new life” outside domestic politics had shown him that Britain had “a lot that we need to do to prepare for the future”, he said.
“Frankly, I doubt there is a way I can play a part but if I can I would love to.”
- 2. Tony Blair may cancel London book signing (guardian.co.uk)
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ETCETERA
1. Telegraph interview of Tony Blair by Mary Riddell
Excerpts:
As well as justifying his decision to invade Iraq, Mr Blair writes scathingly of criminal justice. I put it to him that his messianic sense of rightness made him believe that, on the international and domestic stages, he was above the law. “I hope not. I’m a huge believer in the rule of law. On criminal justice, we need a big debate about law and order in our developed society. We have a real problem on how to deal with modern criminality.” In his view, “dysfunctional families who produce 14-year-old kids stabbing one another to death” and “organised crime, such as drugs and people traffickinge_SLps [sic] are making lives hell”.
[…]
He is, he says, “working as hard as I’ve ever worked in my life”. Though he must be one of the few leaders ever to leave politics to spend less time with his family, he professes no regret. “I don’t know what I will do in the future. I’m basically a public service guy, so if the right job came up. I’d definitely do it. But I enjoy the freedom to do different things. I’d be hopeless at retirement. For me, there is absolutely no way that is ever going to happen.”
You have been warned.
2. John Rentoul: Blair’s gift to Cameron. A leader’s guide
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POLL – Should Tony Blair cancel his book-signing on Wednesday 8th September in London?
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Sign the Ban Blair-Baiting petition here
Recent comments:
“Getting really bored with the persistence with which people pursue their anti-Blair propaganda, steadfastly refusing to see any good in the man.” – AND – “Tony Blair was the greatest Prime Minister since Winston Churchill and the only regret I have he didn’t get my vote as I live in Canada.” – AND – “I am sick and tired of television and radio interviewers asking the same old questions over and over, regarding the decision to go to war in Iraq, presumably they hope Mr Blair will let slip some secret information which they would then use against him. History will show if the decision was the right one, (I believe it was) but people must accept that Tony Blair is a honourable man, and made his decision based on the known facts and not with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight.”
Tags: AGI, book signing off, Daybreak, Dublin, Eamonn Holmes, history, Iraq, iraq war, ITV, John Rentoul, London, London book signing, Mary Riddell, met, Metropolitan Police Service, parliament, prime minister, Sky TV, telegraph, The Independent, Tony Blair, Tony Blair Office, Waterstone, Waterstone's, Winston Churchill
Tony Blair 
September 6, 2010 at 10:38 am |
The reason maybe that the BNP are getting involved in this but the problem is these antis will consider it a victory
September 6, 2010 at 11:26 am |
Celia – According to Waterstone’s it is still on. This may be a kite-flying exercise on Mr Blair’s part. He may be waiting to see how the press and public respond to his thoughts on possible cancellation, and see who they think would be at fault if he DOES cancel.
Also, if it still goes ahead, and there IS trouble, or worse, injuries, he can at least say he was iffy about continuing it. Personally, I don’t think the decision is ALL in his hands. Though, of course, if he said “no, forget it” that would be it.
As for the BNP, I don’t know if they are as important as the so-called “anti-war” types. Rightly or wrongly people see the “peace-loving, anti-war” types as honest brokers. The fact that they are NOT honest brokers is by the way. They are just as politically-motivated as the rabid racists still clearly within the BNP, but mainly on the Left & also the anarchist side, rather than the right like the BNP.
September 6, 2010 at 4:48 pm |
Not sure the T shirt is even supposed to have a Blair connection. The picture is of a slave ship hold layout, and the text (no I don’t have Superision, I found it on Google) is all about the deaths of over 100 million Africans during the slave trade’s “middle passage”. I suspect it’s just what the bloke was wearing when he pulled on the Blair mask.
September 6, 2010 at 5:49 pm |
Thanks for the search, Rob. Of course there could be a link to the ‘evil’ Blair. You might recall he didn’t accept that he, our government or our generation should apologise for African slavery. Especially not when WE led the world in ending it.