Blair's Next Step
May 29th, 2007
Nearly all the sand has fallen in the Blair's hourglass at No. 10 Downing Street. In less than one month's time, the sand will stop trickling and it will be time up for Tony Blair.
Enter the next chapter for the 54-year-old former prime minister and leader of the Labour party.
Presently the incumbent is on a lightning tour of the globe, filled with hugs, handshakes and promises to keep in touch. For the general public his gradual withdrawal from office has been dull, boring and anti-climactic.
The past ten years have been hectic for the PM: wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, wrapping up the peace process in Northern Ireland, domestic terror arttacks, ballyhoo from backbenchers and keeping Gordon Brown steadfast in No. 11 Downing Street. Granted the easiest part of his job was seeing off the largely inept Tory party.
What Mr. Blair does next will be interesting, after all he has a family to look after and a mortgage for the stately pile on Connaught Square to pay off. Short of handing in his CV to Monster or applying for some temporary work, the LondonProject has come up with career guidance for Tony.
He has always been quite the showman - The Economist went as far as to call him a thespian. As evident from Blair's eloquence and sense of timing, a foray in to the world of arts and entertainment is foremost on our list.
This considered, a good place to learn the television trade would be either on Channels Five or ITV's highly underrated late night interactive quiz shows. They are late night and low-key enough to get a good grounding provided you horse back a load of MDMA and a gallon of coffee between every call. Plus, someone with Blair's immaculate reputation would bring added credence and integrity on the back of their premium phone rate debacle.
Next on the list would be a move to the BBC. This might prove difficult initially given the mutual animosity from the Hutton inquiry fallout – but it's hard to imagine 'Aunty ' ignoring raw talent like Blair's.
Blair has admitted in the past that his failure to make it in the world of music pushed him down the road of politics. Take note Katie Price. In spite of this, during his premiership he has openly courted and flirted with ageing 'rockers' and 'world tree huggers' (Sirs. Bono and Bob Geldof). He even had the Gallaghers round to No. 10, (that was awkward television viewing).
With this in mind, Blair would be well able to give Jools Holland a well-deserved Friday night rest – to work on his interviewing skills. I think 'Later with T. Blair' would be compelling viewing as he struts backwards round the circular studio.
By the beginning of 2008 T. Blair (as he would be called from then on) would be a package to contend with. T.Blair the product would be a smooth blend of Graham Norton's unyielding enthusiasm, the guile and class of 'dyed hair' impresario Simon Cowell and the je ne sais quoi of Tinky Winky.
He would have plenty of guest appearances on shows backed by his buddy Rupert 'Fox' Murdoch. Channel Four would be knocking on his door for sure to get him into Britain's other famous household – the CBB house – although he might be better holding out for a few more years. A sex video is, well it's another matter.
The last decade was defined by the politics of Tony Blair, Labour leader and prime minister. The next decade will be defined by how he reshapes the role of the super-presenter and ultimate celebrity. The public will wish T.Blair was leader.
