Tony's Ten Years: Memories of the Blair Administration

by Adam Boulton

Taking the events of Blair's last hundred days as his launching pad for captivating snapshots of key moments in his premiership, Adam Boulton follows Tony Blair intimately through his final day in office. The veteran political journalist witnesses the so-called 'Blairwell Tour' as the caravan travels from Westminster to Washington, Iraq, South Africa, the EU, the G8, Northern Ireland, the Sedgefield constituency, Chequers to the final farewell and beyond. Boulton traces from these celebrations back to the key incidents, achievements and mistakes of the Prime Minister's ten years in power. And he draws on his first hand experience of them to measure Tony Blair against his immediate predecessors, Margaret Thatcher and John Major, and the rival who succeeded him, Gordon Brown.Boulton has followed the Blair story intimately from 1983 to the present. He provides fresh and fascinating insights into the Blair-Brown conflict, the decision making that led to Britain joining the US invasion of Iraq, the pressures on the Blair family, and the often fraught and febrile relationship between Number 10 and the media. MEMORIES OF THE BLAIR ADMINISTRATION is authoritative, highly readable and revealing.

Genres: Politics

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Hans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perceptive insights across all aspects of Tony Blair’s decade as PM, from an outsider who was an insider too. This makes the book unusual. (Stylistically, writing it based on the closing months of the decade, with constant flash backs, makes the book harder work for the reader than necessary). All in all, still fascinating.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written book.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting overview of the Blair era at points, but if honest a very average read

[The Master · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very friendly overview of the Blair era. The author is married to one of Blair's closest advisors, which made me wonder how much "spin" worked its way into the book. To be fair, the author is very upfront about his marital connection.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written book about the politics and creation of the New Labour years. A brilliant in site but the author doesn't order the book chronologically or thematically so sometimes it can be confusing.