John McTernan on Tony Blair's memoirs: Shades of The Godfather . . . sexed up with Prescott's pelvic thrust at Prince Charles

Published on Wednesday 1 September 2010 19:59

Former key Blair aide John McTernan reviews the book and weighs its words against the reality of life as a 'staffer' in No10 Downing Street

It's an odd moment when you realise that your life has become history. The publication of Tony Blair's memoirs A Journey brought home to me just how long it is since Blair was in No10, and I was trying to keep him there.

These were probably the most demanding and intense years of my life - and they take up just a handful of pages. It's chastening to have worked so hard and to end up with one reference in the index - but that's the point. For better or for worse, this is Tony Blair's journey; he is telling the story and he highlights what was important to him.

Tony Blair has said he wrote the book himself, and when he said he'd written in longhand I knew this would have his voice - and it does. It was a Downing Street ritual to spend days drafting a speech for him only to sit in a hotel room watching him read it, think about it and then see him reach for a pencil and a pad of lined paper and start drafting from scratch.

A far better speech would emerge, one perfectly tuned to his voice. For Tony Blair was that rare politician, one who could write well for himself. And his voice runs through this book from beginning to end, from starting sentences with his characteristic opening "Look . . ." (a sure sign you should actually be listening and taking note) to the verb-free sentences and the resolutely conversational, indeed cliched, phrases that pepper the text. (In some ways, I suspect the audio version of the book may be superior to the text . . . it was written to be spoken).

Like Peter Mandelson's book, this is an avowedly partial account. It tells Blair's story - and makes his case. It is not a historical account. As he says: "I wanted this to be different from the traditional political memoir. Most such memoirs are, I have found, rather easy to put down . . . here is a range of events, dates, other politicians absent from it, not because they don't matter, but because my aim was to write not as a historian but rather as a leader."

For the political addict, the truly interesting moments are when he shows the internal workings. He gives a fascinating account of a conversation with Gordon Brown just after the coup launched against him, by the resignation of a minister, in 2006. They sat on their own on the terrace just outside the Cabinet Room. (Tony was a notorious sun-lover, and sat out there whenever British weather permitted.)

All political conversations (high or low) are freighted with unspoken meanings. In this case Blair decodes the conversation: "He said, in effect, there were other (resignation] letters on the way. Spoken (him): I know nothing of the details and have no part in them. Unspoken: You have left me with no choice. I just don't trust you to go. He had left me trapped and I knew it.It was impossible for me to stay, but it was essential to him that he was not the obvious organiser of my leaving.

"Spoken (me): I will make it clear that this conference will be my last. Unspoken: Push me too hard and I will finger you for the coup."

Worthy of The Godfather. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, indeed.

To some degree, the new information in the book focuses on the relation with Brown.

There is no apology for Iraq. There is a fiercely reasoned case presented about why he was right and why he will take full responsibility - but cannot retract or deny what he did. All done with the acknowledgement that this issue has, in British politics, gone way beyond the sphere of rational discussion.

For those willing to listen, he makes an expanded version of the case he put to Chilcot. And, in particular, regrets the way that the intelligence was published in the now infamous dossier.

His answer on the accusation that public and parliamentary consent rested on the "45-minute claim" is interesting: between the publication of the dossier and the BBC broadcast by Andrew Gilligan saying No10 had ordered it to be "sexed up", Blair was asked 45,000 parliamentary questions and only two were about 45 minutes. (Though he does concede the press coverage of the claim should have been immediately corrected).

Tony Blair covers the other main events of his premiership well - the death of Princess Diana and his relationship with the Queen; 9/11 and our own 7/7; public service reform - policy options considered, taken and untaken - which to be honest is as fascinating as it sounds; the Good Friday Agreement.

His self-deprecating humour is evident throughout, but his best anecdote is surely that of an encounter between Prince Charles and John Prescott. The heir to the throne asks: "Does he ever do that thing with you?"

"What thing?" I said.

"Er, well, when he's sitting opposite you, he slides down the seat with his legs apart, his crotch pointing a little menacingly, and balances his teacup and saucer on his tummy. It's very odd. I've never seen someone do that before. What do you think it means?"

It takes some time for Blair to reassure Charles that this wasn't an obscure form of class warfare.

Throughout the book, there is an unfailing stream of generous comments about his staff. It is worth reflecting, from the perspective of a "staffer", that Blair has the distinction of being a politician who never bullied staff. He could be annoyed, exasperated, disappointed - but never raged at those who could not answer back. A little thing, but it generated loyalty.

And finally, there's a nice Alex Ferguson story. Asked what he'd do with a player who wouldn't do what he wanted, Fergie said he'd sack him. But what if the player could turn up in the dressing room every week? Ah, says Sir Alex, that's a bit more complicated.After Blair had announced his resignation, he phoned Ferguson to wish him a happy birthday. During the call, Ferguson said: "Of course, I said I was standing down once . . ." Now that would have been a different journey.

• John McTernan is a former political secretary to Tony Blair.