Blair swaps Downing Street for the Middle East

Deborah Summers, Mark Tran, David Batty and agencies
Wednesday June 27, 2007
Guardian Unlimited


Leaving Downing Street: Tony Blair accompanied by his family (left to right) Euan, Kathryn, Cherie, Nicky and, in the front, Leo. Photograph: Cathal McNaughton/PA

Tony Blair today bowed out of British politics, stepping down as prime minister and an MP to take a new job as special Middle East envoy.

In a carefully choreographed sequence of events, the UN announced Mr Blair's appointment - which had been heavily trailed last week - just hours after he made his exit from British political life.

Soon after handing his resignation as prime minister to the Queen at Buckingham Palace, Mr Blair stood down as MP for Sedgefield, the constituency he had represented since 1983.

More or less simultaneously, his new role was formally announced at the UN headquarters in New York.

"Mr Blair has long demonstrated his commitment to these issues," a UN spokeswoman said. "He will mobilise international assistance for Palestinians."

The former prime minister will act as the representative for the so-called Quartet of Middle East peace mediators - the UN, the US, the EU and Russia.

In a statement, the group said he would spend significant time in the region "working with the parties and others to help create viable and lasting government institutions representing all Palestinians, a robust economy, and a climate of law and order for the Palestinian people".

The White House was quick to welcome Mr Blair's appointment, Reuters reported.

"The president welcomes this announcement, appreciates his [Blair's] willingness to serve and to continue his work for peace in the Middle East," spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.

Confirmation that the former prime minister was to take up the post came amid renewed violence in Gaza.

Israeli forces killed at least 12 Palestinians, most of them gunmen, in their biggest raid on Gaza since Hamas Islamists took over the territory two weeks ago.

The death toll was the highest in a single day since Hamas routed the forces of Fatah movement, which is led by the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas.

A Fatah official said Mr Abbas welcomed Mr Blair's appointment as the Quartet's special envoy.

"The president, who was consulted on the matter, has given the assurance that he will work with Mr Blair to arrive at a peaceful solution on the basis of two states," the chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erakat, told the AFP news agency. "The president is sure that the commitment of Mr Blair to achieving peace is real and strong."

Talya Lador-Fresher, Israel's deputy ambassador in London, also welcomed Mr Blair's appointment.

"It is the right person at the right time," she told BBC Radio 4's PM programme. "Tony Blair has the trust of most players in the Middle East, and certainly his efforts with the Middle East peace process will be both welcomed and necessary."

Earlier, Mr Blair was asked about the Middle East crisis during his final appearance at the Commons despatch box.

"The only way to bring peace and stability to the Middle East is by a two-state solution," he told MPs. "I believe it is possible to do that, but it will require a huge intensity of focus and work."

Mr Blair received a standing ovation from MPs of all parties as he said farewell to parliament at his final prime minister's question time.

He gave an upbeat and at times lighthearted performance to an emotionally charged chamber.

The Conservative leader, David Cameron, stepped aside from the usual party political arguments to pay tribute to Mr Blair's "remarkable achievement of being prime minister for 10 years" and wish him well for the future.

"For all of the heated battles across this dispatch box, for 13 years you have led your party, for 10 years you have led your country and no one can be in any doubt in terms of the huge efforts you have made in terms of public service," he said.

"You have considerable achievements to your credit, whether it is peace in Northern Ireland, whether it is your work in the developing world, which I know will endure."

Mr Blair returned the compliment, thanking the Tory leader and saying, that despite their political differences, he had always found him "most proper, correct and courteous in your dealings with me".

The Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Menzies Campbell, said that despite their political disagreements, Mr Blair had been "unfailingly courteous".

Ulster's first minister, the Rev Ian Paisley, paid tribute to Mr Blair for his role in the Northern Ireland peace process, and said he was now entering into "another colossal task".

The house fell silent as he added: "I hope that what happened in Northern Ireland will be repeated."

In lighter moments, there was laughter when Eurosceptic Tory MP Nicholas Winterton asked for a promise to hold a referendum on the new EU treaty. Mr Blair refused, adding: "Au revoir, auf wiedersehen and arrivederci."

A few minutes later, Mr Blair revealed he had yesterday received his P45.

After the father of the house, Alan Williams, bid him a final farewell, Mr Blair admitted he had never been "much of a Commons man" but admitted he had "never stopped fearing" it and even today felt a "tingling apprehension" before question time.

In his final remarks to the chamber, he said: "I wish everyone, friend or foe, well and that is that, the end."