The Blair Decade

With the exception of Winston Churchill and (possibly) Margaret Thatcher, no other British Prime Minister has had a more profound effect on his nation's destiny than Tony Blair, as illustrated by the PBS-aired The Blair Decade, which traces his tumultuous and frequently controversial career. Initially, Blair seemed to be the right man for the job—his masterful coordination of state affairs in the chaos following Princess Diana's death in August 1997 (dramatized in the Oscar-winning film The Queen) revealed a talent for American-style media savvy that eluded his opponents. Blair dared to move the Labour Party towards centrist policies, blurring the divisions that ruled British politics for decades and ensuring a wider base. But even though a strong economy and vigorous domestic programs were clearly to his credit, foreign policy would prove to be his weak link. Blair's support of America's invasion and occupation of Iraq earned him the sobriquet of George W. Bush's poodle, a tag that he never shook and one that ultimately cost him his job. Interviewees include key British and American political figures such as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, former White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card, and former British Conservative Party leader William Hague. While this documentary profile covers ground familiar to most observers of the British scene, it also serves as an effective reminder of just what happens when a politician overplays his hand and loses the support of a nation—a lesson that transcends national boundaries. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)