Blair, Tony, 1953-

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Anthony Charles Lynton Blair was born May 6, 1953, in Edinburgh, Scotland. He earned his law degree from St. John’s College of the University of Oxford. He met his future wife, Cherie Booth while at Oxford. They married in 1980. They have four children. Tony Blair’s political career began in 1983, when he first ran for a seat in the House of Commons representing the Labour Party. He joined the shadow cabinet in 1988, and went on to be elected Leader of the Opposition in 1994. In the 1990’s, Blair transformed the Labour Party’s platform. These reforms, dubbed New Labour by Blair, were meant to cast the Labour Party as more politically progressive, and to attract a more diverse electorate. New Labour emphasized the importance of social justice, crime prevention, market economics (including many new public-private partnerships), and welfare reform. It was meant to ride a line between capitalism and socialism through reforms that Blair dubbed the “Third Way.” This new outlook led the Labour Party to a resounding victory in the general elections in 1997, and ultimately led Tony Blair to his first term as prime minister. He was the youngest prime minister since 1812, and proved to be the longest-serving Labour prime minister, having won three terms. Blair easily won his second term in 2001, a term that was dogged by international concerns. He supported the United States in the Iraq War, thus damaging his reputation with European world leaders, who were not as supportive of the conflict. The Labour Party went on to win a third term in 2005, though it was not as resounding a win as it had been in the two prior elections. Blair resigned as prime minister in June 2007, to be succeeded by Gordon Brown, his chancellor of the Exchequer. Between 2007 and 2015, Blair served as a special envoy to the Middle East for the Quartet of the United States, the EU, Russia, and the United Nations. In 2010, he published a memoir entitled, A Journey. In 2017, Blair founded the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change.
Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Sir Alec Guinness Archive, 1914-2003 British Library: Western Manuscripts
referencedIn Pushpalata, 1991-2005 Special Collections, Brunel University Library
referencedIn Harvard Law School Forums Records Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn Mary Hyde Eccles papers, 1853-2005, (bulk) 1939-2003. Houghton Library
referencedIn Papers of the Co-operative Commission 2000, Feb 1990-10 Jun 2001 (predominantly 2000-2001) National Co-operative Archive
referencedIn Sir Liam Donaldson Collection, 1959 - 2010 Newcastle upon Tyne University: Special Collections
referencedIn Hare, David, 1947-. Stuff happens : a play / by David Hare, 2006. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Correspondence and Related Items (Including Undated) , 2005-2008 British Library
referencedIn Co-operative Party Papers, Dec 1917- 11 Mar 1998 National Co-operative Archive
referencedIn Supplementary Pinter Papers, 1977-2008 British Library: Western Manuscripts
referencedIn University of Connecticut, Thomas J. Dodd Research Center Records, undated, 1965- Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
Relation Name
associatedWith Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center corporateBody
spouseOf Booth, Cherie person
correspondedWith Bush, George W. (George Walker), 1946- person
associatedWith Co-operative Party corporateBody
associatedWith Eccles, Mary Hyde. person
memberOf Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons corporateBody
correspondedWith Guinness, Sir, Alec, 1914-2000 person
associatedWith Hare, David, 1947- person
correspondedWith Harvard Law School Forum corporateBody
memberOf Labour Party (Great Britain) corporateBody
correspondedWith Pinter, Harold, 1930-2008 person
associatedWith Professor Sir Liam Joseph Donaldson person
associatedWith Pushpalata Dance Company corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf St John's College corporateBody
associatedWith The Co-operative Commission 2000 corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
University of Oxford
Edinburgh SCT GB
Greater London ENG GB
Subject
Occupation
Politicians
Prime ministers
Activity

Person

Birth 1953-05-06

Britons

English

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