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When Tony Blair became Leader of the Labour Party in 1994, many believed he would be the new prime minister. Three years later, following 14 years of a conservative government, Labour came to power in a landslide victory. And as predicted, Blair became the UK’s new and youthful prime minister.
In his yet unpublished Blair biography, veteran journalist Steve Richards casts new light on the man and his legacy. As Richards writes, ‘Blair’s government secured peace in Northern Ireland, introduced a minimum wage,
introduced Sure Start, improved the NHS, transformed cities in the UK, began the long task of abolishing child poverty, established civil partnerships and imposed a smoking ban. Devolution was implemented
fairly smoothly. Free entry to museums and art galleries was reintroduced. The list could go on….’
But how enduring was that legacy? How long was the shadow cast by the Iraq War? What is the truth about the Blair/Brown rivalry, and could it have been managed better? And who is the real Tony Blair – a visionary, looking ahead or a leader trapped by his past?
Join us to reflect on the Blair years and what they can teach us about navigating the many political challenges today. Everyone is welcome to make comments and ask questions.
The publication is due to hit shelves on 11 September 2025. Copies will be on sale at the event.
Speaker
Steve Richards
Steve Richards is a political columnist, journalist, author and presenter. He presents the podcast Rock N Roll Politics and regularly presents The Week in Westminster on BBC Radio 4 as well as BBC series on Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn. He is the author of The Prime Ministers, Turning Points and The Prime Ministers We Never Had, the latter of which was named a ʻBook of the Year’ in The Guardian and The Times. He writes for several national newspapers including The Guardian, the Independent and the Financial Times. He also presents a popular political one-man show each year at the Edinburgh Festival and across the UK.