Family stress nearly made Blair quit, claims Bragg
Tony Blair's spring wobble when he seriously considered stepping down as prime minister was driven by "personal and family" pressures, and not by the political controversies raging around him, an old friend suggested yesterday. The Labour peer, Melvyn Bragg, whose wife, Cate Haste, co-authored Cherie Blair's new book on Downing Street spouses, made the claim during an interview with ITV News which caught No 10 on the hop.
Asked by Alastair Stewart if Mr Blair "nearly did go and call it a day", Lord Bragg was clearly determined to be both discreet and loyal to the Blairs, but also to Labour's heir-apparent, Gordon Brown.
"I think that he [Mr Blair] was under tremendous stress. He was being hammered in the press. Perhaps he had doubts about some policies, perhaps not.
"But in my view, the real stress was personal and family, which matters most to him. And my guess is that the considerations of his family became very pressing and that was what made him think things over very carefully. That is my guess," he said.
Though Lord Bragg later explained that he was not suggesting matrimonial problems - "I have never seen a couple get on as good as those two" - he repeated that his guess was that the "colossal strain" earlier this year was the result of pressures of family life.
The Blairs have four children, several siblings and three living parents, including Leo Blair senior, who is now frail and Tony Booth, the actor and old Labour activist who has hounded successive Labour premiers, including his son-in-law. His ex-wife acts as a nanny to Leo junior, four.
Lord Bragg's remarks come after weeks of speculation about Mr Blair's intentions and the understanding, if any, he has reached with the chancellor about a smooth transfer of power when the time comes.
One version of events, reported this week, suggested that Mr Blair had even considered announcing that he would stand down, not immediately, but before the coming election.
He was allegedly talked out of it by senior colleagues, notably John Prescott and Mr Brown himself, because a pre-announced delay would be highly disruptive. No 10 officials and Blair allies deny that explanation.
Last night Mr Blair's official spokesman said: "I must admit it took us by surprise as much as anybody else. I don't know why he said it. What Lord Bragg said is a matter for Lord Bragg and not for us."
He drew attention to Mr Blair's public denial that he had ever thought of quitting, made in July.
Whatever the truth of the wobble and its causes, those close to Mr Brown insist that he did talk his old friend out of stepping down this spring, not least because it would lead to a turbulent pre-election leadership contest - despite Mr Brown's near-certainty of victory.
Blair's daughter Kathryn in suicide bid
Tony Gosling, 15.06.2004 18:25
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/06/293456.html
Last month it appears Tony Blair's daughter Kathryn tried to commit suicide. According to my sources the combination of pressure over father Tony's warmongering at school, parental neglect and general exam stress were behind the bid.
Various commentators have noted a shift in press reporting of Blair's chances of remaining as party leader since the news blackout on this story.
Tony Blair's daughter in suicide bid
http://www.public-interest.co.uk/aseye/index.htm#Tony
On or around Thursday 13th May 2004 Tony Blair's 16 year old daughter Kathryn attempted to commit suicide. She is in the middle of exams, believed to be GCSE's, and took an overdose of unknown pills. She was rushed to hospital and a news blackout was requested by the PM's office and adhered to by the British Press.
Kathryn is believed to be studying at the Sacred Heart school in Hammersmith, West London, a Roman Catholic state secondary school. News about the suicide attempt was confirmed by Alan Johnson, Labour MP for West Hull and Hessle.
So, was this a sudden pang of concience from the British tabloids over sensitive reporting of the PM's family? Or the establishment press (yes even the tabloids are owned by the establishment) kow-towing to protect the flagging public image of the most disasterous Prime Minister this country has ever seen just before local/European elections?
In a democracy, the public have a right to know about the family failings of anyone in public office - it enables them to judge whether to vote for that individual or not. When that failing family is the Prime Ministers the press have a duty to inform the public - not to protect politicians' images from public scrutiny.
More details and guidelines on suicide reporting
http://www.presswise.org.uk/display_page.php?id=171
On or around Thursday 13th May 2004 Tony Blair's 16 year old daughter Kathryn attempted to commit suicide. She is in the middle of exams, believed to be GCSE's and took an overdose of unknown pills. She was rushed to hospital and a news blackout was requested by the PM's office and adhered to by the British Press. Katherine is believed to be studying at the Sacred Heart school in Hammersmith, West London, a Roman Catholic state secondary school.
News about the suicide attempt was confirmed by Alan Johnson, Labour MP for West Hull and Hessle.
Asked by Alastair Stewart if Mr Blair "nearly did go and call it a day", Lord Bragg was clearly determined to be both discreet and loyal to the Blairs, but also to Labour's heir-apparent, Gordon Brown.
"I think that he [Mr Blair] was under tremendous stress. He was being hammered in the press. Perhaps he had doubts about some policies, perhaps not.
"But in my view, the real stress was personal and family, which matters most to him. And my guess is that the considerations of his family became very pressing and that was what made him think things over very carefully. That is my guess," he said.
Though Lord Bragg later explained that he was not suggesting matrimonial problems - "I have never seen a couple get on as good as those two" - he repeated that his guess was that the "colossal strain" earlier this year was the result of pressures of family life.
The Blairs have four children, several siblings and three living parents, including Leo Blair senior, who is now frail and Tony Booth, the actor and old Labour activist who has hounded successive Labour premiers, including his son-in-law. His ex-wife acts as a nanny to Leo junior, four.
Lord Bragg's remarks come after weeks of speculation about Mr Blair's intentions and the understanding, if any, he has reached with the chancellor about a smooth transfer of power when the time comes.
One version of events, reported this week, suggested that Mr Blair had even considered announcing that he would stand down, not immediately, but before the coming election.
He was allegedly talked out of it by senior colleagues, notably John Prescott and Mr Brown himself, because a pre-announced delay would be highly disruptive. No 10 officials and Blair allies deny that explanation.
Last night Mr Blair's official spokesman said: "I must admit it took us by surprise as much as anybody else. I don't know why he said it. What Lord Bragg said is a matter for Lord Bragg and not for us."
He drew attention to Mr Blair's public denial that he had ever thought of quitting, made in July.
Whatever the truth of the wobble and its causes, those close to Mr Brown insist that he did talk his old friend out of stepping down this spring, not least because it would lead to a turbulent pre-election leadership contest - despite Mr Brown's near-certainty of victory.
Blair's daughter Kathryn in suicide bid
Tony Gosling, 15.06.2004 18:25
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/06/293456.html
Last month it appears Tony Blair's daughter Kathryn tried to commit suicide. According to my sources the combination of pressure over father Tony's warmongering at school, parental neglect and general exam stress were behind the bid.
Various commentators have noted a shift in press reporting of Blair's chances of remaining as party leader since the news blackout on this story.
Tony Blair's daughter in suicide bid
http://www.public-interest.co.uk/aseye/index.htm#Tony
On or around Thursday 13th May 2004 Tony Blair's 16 year old daughter Kathryn attempted to commit suicide. She is in the middle of exams, believed to be GCSE's, and took an overdose of unknown pills. She was rushed to hospital and a news blackout was requested by the PM's office and adhered to by the British Press.
Kathryn is believed to be studying at the Sacred Heart school in Hammersmith, West London, a Roman Catholic state secondary school. News about the suicide attempt was confirmed by Alan Johnson, Labour MP for West Hull and Hessle.
So, was this a sudden pang of concience from the British tabloids over sensitive reporting of the PM's family? Or the establishment press (yes even the tabloids are owned by the establishment) kow-towing to protect the flagging public image of the most disasterous Prime Minister this country has ever seen just before local/European elections?
In a democracy, the public have a right to know about the family failings of anyone in public office - it enables them to judge whether to vote for that individual or not. When that failing family is the Prime Ministers the press have a duty to inform the public - not to protect politicians' images from public scrutiny.
More details and guidelines on suicide reporting
http://www.presswise.org.uk/display_page.php?id=171
On or around Thursday 13th May 2004 Tony Blair's 16 year old daughter Kathryn attempted to commit suicide. She is in the middle of exams, believed to be GCSE's and took an overdose of unknown pills. She was rushed to hospital and a news blackout was requested by the PM's office and adhered to by the British Press. Katherine is believed to be studying at the Sacred Heart school in Hammersmith, West London, a Roman Catholic state secondary school.
News about the suicide attempt was confirmed by Alan Johnson, Labour MP for West Hull and Hessle.
