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Intelligence Squared

Tony Blair on Trial

Intelligence Squared

Intelligence Squared

Arts, News, Society & Culture, News Commentary

4.21.1K Ratings

🗓️ 29 April 2016

⏱️ 62 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

When Tony Blair became prime minister in May 1997, he had a landslide majority, an approval rating of 93 per cent, and he went on to become Labour’s longest-serving premier. At his last PMQs he got a standing ovation in the chamber of the House of Commons. How things have changed. Nowadays all we hear about is the accusations of lies, hubris and money-making business deals. But is this disillusionment justified? To assess the record of this extraordinary politician, Intelligence Squared staged Tony Blair on Trial. Levelling the charges against him was Tom Bower, the investigative journalist who was about to publish his most explosive book yet: 'Broken Vows: Tony Blair and the Tragedy of Power'. All this is a travesty, according to David Aaronovitch, award-winning columnist on the Times, who defended Tony Blair in our event. As they slugged it out, Bower and Aaronovitch called upon their specially chosen expert witnesses to bolster their case: Professor Margaret Brown, Emeritus Professor of Mathematics... Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/intelligencesquared. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

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0:56.0

Thank you for downloading this Intelligence Square podcast.

1:00.0

For more information on our debates, talks and discussions, visit Intelligence

1:04.6

Square.com and sign up to the newsletter.

1:08.0

Members of the jury, thank you so much for joining us here today.

1:13.7

I'm very disappointed to be described merely as the chair.

1:17.5

I thought of myself as the right honorable Lord Justice Robinson.

1:21.8

Here today, I asked for a gown, I asked for a wig, but sadly they were not

1:25.6

available. Can I just say at the outset I've got a little bit of a cold to

1:30.0

forgive a slightly crusty sound to the voice, forgive me for that.

1:34.0

We are essentially going to hear from our two key proponents tonight

1:39.7

for the prosecution and for the defense

...

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