Tony Blair

Of course it was, but at what cost to our own troops? Don't know about you but for me an atrocity is an atrocity whoever commits it and the person whoever they are should be pursued. For one side to have an amnesty and not the other is just not right. I know about the ends justifying the means , but you tell that to the families/ recipients of IRA violence and to soldiers who rightly or wrongly stand to be accused and dragged through the courts for an accusation that happened so long ago and I think they might just feel a tiny bit 'bitter'? Amnesty should be for all or none at all.

I was a bit baffled by the reference to Northern Ireland as a 'slanted deal' too. The situation over the last two decades has been a million times better than it was before. Compromising is the grown up solution.

Boris has never been PM. He's had the luxury of sitting on the sidelines and making jokes.

Oh and nigglynellie much as I hate Blair the Northern Ireland Agreement was one of the great achievements of his government (thanks to Mo Mowlam) . There was sectarian violence on both sides- not just the IRA but the Loyalist groups as well.

Boris hasn't been responsible for taking us into a war that not only cost the lives and well being of hundreds our brave men and women, but the same horrors for thousands of innocent civillians in the middle east! Boris isn't responsible for the somewhat slanted deal in NI! Can TB not see or understand that no one is going to believe him, whatever makes him think that they will?!! If we did, then he would be right, we would be ignorant and stupid! Being taken for a potential ride yet again by this person would be foolish in the extreme!
Of course politicians have deceived us in the past - Suez come to mind, the Profumo affair and no doubt many other incidences, but the two named, both very serious matters, caused the resignation of the then PM, Eden, and in Macmillans case, brought down the government. In other words, the buck stopped at the top, and the top had the humility to 'carry the can!'
This man (TB) seems to have no sense of remorse, sense of right and wrong, or even any vague admission of responsibility! I think he and Trump would make a 'pigeon pair', it's hard to work out who is the most egotistical, nothing to choose between them!!

it was also the will of a lot of politicians.

Just dipping in and out at the moment as I'm busy, but I'm surprised at this comment. As I recall, commentators on the A50 debates in Parliament noted that MP after MP got up to say that they disagreed with the Leave vote, that leaving the EU was bad, even disasterous, for the UK. That they voted for the Bill had nothing to do with agreement with Brexit.

MPs do still count as 'politicians', don't they?

I have read all of Blair's speech and, whatever I think of the man who delivered it, I agree with just about every word of it.

(Now back to the garden...)

And Boris hasn't lied?
Trump won't invite him, one thing Tony has always been strong on is the environment and global warming.
Do you really think Boris is content with his 'good job' rar? Because I think he is manoeuvring himself into position ready to take over.

Agree 100% nigglynellie

Which Briton does he want to save? Himself?
While he was an unpaid middle east envoy, he earned £20 million for himself. I don't call that unpaid. He managed it because of the links he then had to important people.

The only way I can tolerate him on television is with the sound off. He is entitled to his opinion, but I don't have to listen to it.
I wonder when Donald Trump will invite him to be a special advisor.

I agree nigglynellie, the man lied so often, no sense of responsibility to our troops. I think with others he has an agenda to become EU President. Of course other politicians have manipulated and lied but on this thread we are discussing Tony Blair.

Self interest here, otherwise why wasn't this 'messiah' beating the drum loud and clear during the campaign?!!! Why this sudden concern for the fortunes of this country?!! Why on earth would anyone believe this man who not only persuaded/lied this country into an illegal war, he also sent our troops to fight in this war ill equipped in every respect to the point that service personnel were killed, badly wounded and unable to operate to full capacity because of this dereliction of duty and care. No word of regret from this man or even a modicum of sympathy. Soldiers are still being pursued years later with regard to their time in NI, while for IRA atrocities the slate was wiped cleaned! Wriggled out of the Chilcot report, and now is suddenly interested in 'saving Briton'!! Give me a break, the man's about the most untrustworthy person ever born in this country! He should be impeached!!!

Most politicians probably have an agenda trisher but Boris also has a good job in politics at the moment, unlike Blair.I think all past PM's miss being in the limelight and Blair sees his chance to be talked about and interviewed.

Do you really think Boris hasn't an "agenda (for himself) rar ? I don't trust either of them. In fact the only thing I could say is that, much as I hate him, Tony has already made his name and a lot of money, whereas Boris is still clawing his way up and is probably planning his campaign to replace Theresa right now.

Nothing wrong with what he said!

The electorate was actually told on more than one occasion that the UK wouldn't be leaving the single market.

Tony Blair just carried on with the rhetoric he used during the referendum and has been said by many posters on GN.

The electorate are thick, didn't know there was a possibility of leaving the Single Market (lie), Labour did not pull out the stops to back vote 'Remain, the Referendum result must be accepted but challenged (in other words I don't really accept it but I sound plausible, no you don't), those who voted 'Remain' must cause as much trouble as possible so that the status quo remains and we can overturn the referendum result if we push hard enough.

He wants another referendum but if you listen to the question and answer time after his speech he was so none committal as to exactly what/how people should 'RISE UP' he sounded a tad confused.

All Blair has done is give a bit of false hope to Remainers, there will be no more referendums, it will be full steam ahead for Brexit ( or Breggsit as Tony likes to say.)
It was not simply the will of the people ( although it was a majority vote) it was also the will of a lot of politicians.

Tony Blair called the million-man march on London’s streets against the Iraq War ‘fatuous’ and a defence of the ‘most illiberal’ regime on earth

Tony Blair blasted the biggest protest march in British history as ‘fatuous’ in a memo to George W Bush days after the UK and US launched the Iraq War.

He took no notice of public opinion then so why should be expect the public to take notice of him now - and why would he expect any government to take notice if there were more protests when he did not?

I also agree with your Sat 18-Feb-17 11:16:44 post Welshwife and am interested that some are at last putting their head above the parapet to talk to and for the half of the country (plus or minus) which didn't want leave on the day of the referendum. However, having heard some of the outrageous statement from leave voters I wouldn't advertise with a badge just yet. As more and more get over the shock and think about what they want, (both in and out voters)perhaps a more thoughtful discussion can take place.

I think the "why now" question was because of the two bi-elections coming up.

LadyGracie good point!

true

You could also reverse your comment daphnedill it would still be tru!

Jalima He had problems with the ending of that one. His current project is proving difficult to get off the ground because people simply won't listen!

'He has a cheek criticsing Blair for anything' ....really? anthing? Hardly.

Blair has an agenda ( for himself ) nothing else makes sense of the timing of this nonsense.
nobody will be 'rising up' anytime soon on this.

Boris Johnson is one of the biggest liars around. He has a cheek criticising Blair for anything.