Tony Blair invited Leicester MP Hewitt to talks 'to annoy deputy'
Tony Blair used to invite former Leicester MP Patricia Hewitt to talk in cabinet meetings just to irritate his Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.
Former Prime Minister Mr Blair makes the disclosure in his memoir A Journey which was published yesterday.
He makes the claim while praising Mr Prescott's achievements in Government, but pointing out he had a "rough exterior".
He wrote of Mr Prescott: "He was definitely old fashioned and not great at working with a certain type of middle class woman, and though sound on the policy of gay rights, was led more by his head than his heart."
Mr Blair continues, telling how at cabinet Mr Prescott would sit "like a grumbling volcano ready to erupt" often because one of the women had spoken up.
He wrote: "Patricia Hewitt was sure to get him going.
"She was, in fact, a really good minister and was excellent at the Department of Health, taking truly difficult decisions with immense determination, but at cabinet she would usually raise the women's angle.
"John would make some slightly off-colour remark if he was in a sour mood.
"I would then bring her in again just for the sheer entertainment of watching him explode."
In his book, Mr Blair also blames Gordon Brown for losing the last election by deviating from the New Labour message, describing him as "maddening".
He adds that Labour will face danger if it drifts to the left under its new leader, predicting an even heavier election defeat.
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by Jane, Another Planet
Friday, September 03 2010, 4:53PM
“Danny S. You speak for yourself. I'm a working woman with a husband and Blair didn't fool me ! Didn't fool my dear husband either.”
by Danny S, Leicestershire
Thursday, September 02 2010, 1:29PM
“Tony Blair is a Champagne Socialist who conned the working man into thinking he and his wife were on their side.
In fact his distain of all those in a position of power from his school days created a man self serving and determined to leave "permanent legacy" on the country. He succeeded with that. Just look at the millions of people he and his party deliberately let in "permanently" between 1999 and 2007.
Blair had enough of a majority in the first 4 years that our so called democracy had policy conducted on the settees of the Parliament passageways and not the commons debating floor. A hollow PM who's desire use of a spin doctor to hide truths was second to none and showed what sort of man he was. False. His unwavering desire for £millions on the back of being a Labour PM, just shows his true colours.
A man for himself, and of course not forgetting, himself.
ps. Isn¿t it amazing that, as a former Trotskyite, suddenly Cherrie Blair's previous political passions faded away at the sniff of cash and capitalism.
Brown was a bad PM, but at least you could see what he was about. Blair was and has always been smoke and mirrors.”
by David, Great Easton, Rural Leicestershire.
Thursday, September 02 2010, 12:41PM
“The one good thing about this book is that it signals the journey is over for Blair. I hope he rests in peace but I doubt it!!”
by Jane, Another Planet
Thursday, September 02 2010, 11:45AM
“Sorry, I did a typo. That first sentence should have read: To R.B. - I doubt that Brown thought he was being given a poisoned challis, HE would never have accepted the position of Prime Minister if he'd thought that. ..........”
by Jane, Another Planet
Thursday, September 02 2010, 11:43AM
“To R.B. - I doubt that Brown thought he was being given a poisoned challis, how would never have accepted the position of Prime Minister if he'd thought that. I doubt that he considered that his position as Prime Minister would be anything other than positive because he felt he would be able to undo some of what Blair had done. As for Hewitt, it's well known that she was and still is a great friend of Blair's, so he's bound to put a positive spin on her. Kulgan, I don't think this will be an interesting thread at all because most will simply agree.
And Dave, Blair didn't "get out" he was pushed. He desperately wanted to hang on to the Prime Ministership because he didn't want Gordon to take over. Twas the "Broonites" who pushed him ! All dirty, dirty business, but that's Politics for you ;)”