Anthony “Tony” Charles Lynton Blair (b.1953) is a British Labour statesman and diplomat. He served as Britain’s prime minister 1997–2007.
Born in Edinburgh and educated at Oxford, Blair was a lawyer before entering politics. His landslide victory in the 1997 general election gave his party its biggest-ever majority. His government reformed Britain’s education, health service, and social security systems. Blair also promoted significant constitutional changes, including devolution in Scotland and Wales, and a new settlement in Northern Ireland.
In his second term, following the events of September 11, 2001, Blair controversially supported American president George W. Bush’s war on terrorism and committed British troops to the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Blair was elected a third term, but resigned midterm in 2007, and left parliament.
Blair has since served as an international envoy to the Middle East, frequently lecturing and pursuing business and charitable interests. He published his memoirs A Journey: My Political Life (2011) to “describe the human as much as the political dimensions of life as prime minister.”
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Tony Blair
The art of leadership is saying no, not yes. It is very easy to say yes.
—Tony Blair
Topics: Leadership
We are not the masters. The people are the masters. We are the servants of the people…What the electorate gives, the electorate can take away.
—Tony Blair
Power without principle is barren, but principle without power is futile. This is a party of government and I will lead it as party of government.
—Tony Blair
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