Tony Blair’s biography on its way to bookshops

Mar 7 2010 Sunday Sun

Many characters from across the region have made it in to local folklore, such as pensioner Ron Henderson who famously made a point of teasing the Prime Minister over how much hair he had lost since starting as an MP.

And Newcastle Eagle’s player-coach Fabulous Flournoy is another thought to have had a big impact on the PM.

Blair described the 6ft 4ins basketballer as one of the most inspirational sportsmen he had ever met following a primary school visit.

Blair said: “He was absolutely outstanding, putting something amazing back into the local community.

“He wouldn’t be as famous as the David Beckhams of this world, but if I was going to pick out someone that I’d come across recently, I thought he was an inspiration, and it’s great when you see people who’ve done well in sport and aren’t arrogant about it, but are really quite humble about how lucky they’ve been to have that talent, and want to use it to the benefit of others.”

Many have speculated that Blair’s relationship with Gordon Brown will be a central part of the book.

The two are known to have had furious rows as Brown repeatedly called on Blair to step down and let him take over the party leadership.

Westminster sources say the book will hold back from a full-on attack on Brown.

If so it is unlikely to include the recent revelations of Brown’s allegedly confrontational management style.

Asked whether Gordon Brown was looking forward to reading Mr Blair’s book, the PM’s spokesman said: “The Prime Minister is a bibliophile and I am sure amongst his reading will be political biographies and autobiographies.

“He hasn’t specifically mentioned that book, but I know he has a wide-ranging interest in books.”

Mr Blair will voice the audio version of the book, which will be published in print and electronic “eBook“ versions.

Mr Blair, who appeared before the Iraq Inquiry in January, said: “I have really enjoyed the writing of the book. I have tried to write a book which describes the human as much as the political dimensions of life as Prime Minister.

“Though necessarily retrospective, it is an attempt to inform and shape current and future thinking as much as an historical account of the past. Most of all I want readers to have as much pleasure reading it as I had writing it.”