Blair: Sorry for the times I let you down

13 April 2012

• Blair will stand down as PM on June 27th

• PM: I apologise for the times I have failed

• PM: I did what I thought was right

• PM: Britain is the greatest nation on earth

Tony Blair fought back tears today as he set the date to leave No 10.

In an emotional and electrifying speech, he spoke more candidly than ever before of his pride and regrets after a decade in power.

He also came the closest to admitting that Iraq had gone badly wrong.

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Blair blows a kiss to his supporters after his emotional speech

Describing Britain as a "blessed nation", he said: "I give my thanks to you British people for the times I have succeeded - and my apologies to you for the times I have fallen short."

Mr Blair, surrounded by his closest friends and aides, was given a tumultuous ovation from a 200-strong crowd at Trimdon Labour Club in his constituency of Sedgefield, Co Durham.

As he spoke, the Bank of England increased interest rates by 0.25 per cent to 5.5 per cent.

Mr Blair announced he would hand in his resignation to the Queen on 27 June clearing the way for Gordon Brown.

Mr Blair, standing in the same room where he launched his campaign to be Labour leader in 1994, said of his 10 years in power: "I think that's long enough for me and more especially for the country. Sometimes the only way you can conquer the pull of power is to set it down."

He recalled the landslide victory of 1997 and the high hopes of people around Britain.

But striking an almost penitential tone, he added: "Sometimes expectations were too high. But at least I had a go."

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Blair announces his departure as Labour leader

Mr Blair, mindful of the shadow of Iraq over his legacy, devoted one of the most passionate sections of his speech to explaining that he ordered military action from a sincere conviction that it was necessary.

He admitted the "blowback since has been fierce, and unrelenting and costly," adding: "For many it simply is not and cannot be worth it.

"For me, I think we must see it through. It is a test of will, of belief and we cannot fail it."

He said: "Hand on heart, I did what I thought was right. I may have been wrong, that's your call, but believe one thing above all - I did what I thought was right for my country."

But Mr Blair also spoke of his pride, saying that his decade had seen a sea-change in Britain which was a more tolerant and open-minded country, with better schools and hospitals, a booming economy and greater self-belief.

He claimed direct credit for the Northern Ireland peace process and for winning the London Olympics bid, saying neither would have happened without New Labour.

"This country is a blessed nation," he said. "The British are special. The world knows it and in our innermost thoughts we know it. This is the greatest nation in the world. So it has been an honour to serve it."

He urged people to think back to before 1997 and asked when "did you last wait a year or more on a hospital waiting list, last heard of a pensioner freezing to death in winter, unable to heat their home.

"There's only one government since 1945 that can say all the following: more jobs, better education results, lower crime and economic growth in every quarter."

John Prescott, Britain's short-fused, often ridiculed Deputy Prime Minister for the past 10 years, will also quit the Government alongside Tony Blair.

In an open letter to his constituency party today, he said: "As I informed you and the East Hull Executive a couple of weeks ago, I intend to stand down as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.

"I also gave written notice to the National Executive Committee officers and the General Secretary of the Labour Party two weeks ago that it was my intention not to continue as the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.

"Tony and I were elected together back in 1994 and it has been an honour to serve as Deputy to the most successful Labour Prime Minister ever.

"To have been Deputy Leader and the longest-serving Deputy Prime Minister is a matter of great pride to me."

Mr Prescott will be remembered not so much for his political achievements down the years, but for his out-of-office antics which transformed him into a national laughing stock, some would say a loveable one, others not.

The day of drama began for Mr Blair just after 9am when he chaired the weekly Cabinet by admitting it would be an unusual meeting.

He then confirmed what his ministers already knew, that he would be flying straight to his constituency to announce his intention to quit as Labour Party leader and Prime Minister.

Mr Blair said he did not want anyone to comment on his departure in the Cabinet meeting because he would be remaining in power for another seven weeks. But just as it was about to break up after barely 15 minutes, Mr Brown intervened with a fulsome tribute to the man he will succeed.

Taking over the meeting, Mr Brown said it would not be right to leave without offering thanks and appreciation to the Prime Minister for his unique achievements in the past 10 years and for the "unique leadership that he had given his party, Britain and the world".

"There was much thumping on the table," said the official Downing Street spokesman later. "It was a surprisingly businesslike occasion and a goodhumoured occasion."

Environment Secretary David Miliband said: "It wasn't tears and huge emotion but you felt you were there at a relatively historic occasion."

Minutes later the Prime Minister was setting off in convoy to the airport for the journey to Co Durham.

The venue he chose for his first public comments was the same room where 14 years ago he was nominated to stand for the Labour leadership and be the man who dragged his party from the wilderness to three election triumphs.

Aides said Mr Blair wanted "to be with his closest friends in politics - the people who elected him and sustained him".

Today's warm tributes provided only a brief lull for nostalgia before a fierce battle for the future of Labour began in earnest.

Mr Brown will set his leadership juggernaut racing in a launch event tomorrow, symbolising his eagerness to take control of the political agenda.

And Mr Blair was waging his own battle to safeguard his political legacy by embarking on a series of international visits, starting tomorrow in Paris - where he will endorse Mr Brown as his successor - before future visits to Washington, Africa and summits in Germany and Brussels.

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Tony Blair waves as he arrives in Sedgefield today

Mr Blair will also use his last seven weeks to rush out yet more public service reforms, including a new wave of City Academy schools, new counterterrorism measures and tougher laws to seize the assets of criminals.

With Left-wingers arguing that Mr Blair's departure should be an opportunity to shift direction back to the unions and traditional left, senior Blairites stepped in to insist New Labour must stay in the centre ground.

The first heavyweight intervention came from Chief Whip Jacqui Smith. She said Labour would make a "fundamental error' and risk losing power if it 'retreats to the heartland" after last week's local election defeats in the South-East.

Mr Blair will spend another two years as a back bench MP under Mr Brown, one of his closest friends predicted today.

Long-standing agent John Burton said: "Unless there is something massive.... he will represent the people who elected him.... until the next election."

Mr Blair and his wife arrived at Trimdon Labour Club to cheers and applause from a group of local supporters.

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Blair meets cheering locals in Sedgefield today

In scenes reminiscent of his arrival at Downing Street ten years' ago, Mr Blair walked down a "guard of honour", taking time to shake hands and embrace members of the assembled crowd. Some held banners saying "Thank you for lending us Cherie" and "Things did get better."

However, not everyone joined in the celebrations. Away from the main entrance, a small group of anti-war supporters booed and jeered Mr Blair.

The crowd also included Ruth Turner, the Downing Street aide caught up in the Cash for Peerages furore, and Cabinet minister Hilary Armstrong.

Mr Brown had a campaign team up and running at Westminster today, led by Commons leader Jack Straw. Mr Brown is expected to announce his candidature tomorrow. With around 200 MPs signing Mr Brown's nomination papers and polls showing him the clear choice of party members and unions, there was no doubt he would be crowned at a conference on 30 June.

The only declared rivals, Leftwingers Michael Meacher and John McDonnell, looked uncertain of getting the 45 nominations needed to stand. Six rival candidates for deputy leader are expected to launch their campaigns.

. A new poll today found that Mr Blair will leave office with his ratings still high among Labour voters and with grudging respect of all voters.

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