THE TELEGRAPH: It has been the longest, most stage-managed farewell in British, if not world, political history. After 10 extraordinary years as Prime Minister and global statesman, Tony Blair has, it seems, said his goodbyes to almost everyone - from tribal elders in a village in Sierra Leone, to Colonel Gadaffi in his Libyan tent, and the tea ladies of Number Ten.
No picture opportunity has been left untaken, no stunt unperformed, as Labour's most successful politician has prepared to take his leave. Today, "Blair legacy tours" will even drop in on Pope Benedict XVI for a chat at the Vatican. On Tuesday, the day before he is driven up the Mall to hand in his notice to the Queen at Buckingham Palace, Blair will entertain ex-movie star turned governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, to discuss climate change.
The aim of it all, as a leaked Downing Street memo revealed last year, has been to "leave the crowds wanting more" as Tony steps off the stage - to create a picture of a man of constant action rather than a political leader heading, exhausted, for retirement. The final curtain: Toby Helm asks if Tony Blair is in denial about leaving Number 10 (more)
!0 Years of Tony Blair
Mark Alexander
