Tom Bower

This talk is based on what is described as ‘the most explosive book of the year’ by The Times Cultural Review.

Bower tells Blair’s story from when he became prime minister in May 1997 when, at 43 years old, he was the youngest person to hold that office since 1812. With a landslide majority, his approval rating was 93 per cent and he went on to become Labour's longest-serving premier.

Blair had promised that 'New Labour' would modernize Britain, freeing it from sleaze, special interests and government secrecy. He vowed to give priority to social justice and equal opportunity for all. So what went wrong?

The invasion of Iraq was particularly controversial and unleashed public fury against a government accused of not being open and honest. Alastair Campbell's 'dodgy' dossiers about WMDs sparked outrage. But also: What is the truth behind Blair's claims of rebuilding Britain's schools, hospitals and welfare services?

Why did he covertly open the doors to mass immigration? And how is it that the same man who risked his government to destroy Slobodan MiloSevic and Saddam Hussein has, since leaving office, earned millions of pounds serving dictators?

Tom Bower is an investigative historian, broadcaster and journalist. A former producer and reporter for BBC Television, he is the author of twenty books, including biographies of Robert Maxwell, Mohamed Fayed, Gordon Brown and Conrad Black.