What does Tony Blair want? He's been sniffing about his old haunts in Britain for months now, quietly at first: Labour fundraisers, the occasional visit to a newspaper office, private talks with senior politicians on both sides. Less quietly on Sunday, he appeared on BBC1's Andrew Marr show and reminded early risers that, despite the millions in the bank, he remains a public service kinda guy.
The very question enrages several vocal Labour interest groups: those who can't forgive him for embracing market economics and public-sector reforms too enthusiastically, for joining George Bush's ill-starred occupation of Iraq and – in some quarters – for the un-Labour offence of winning three elections. The bastard!
It also terrifies the Tories, of whom he shrewdly said at the start of the 2010 election: "If we can't beat this lot we shouldn't be in politics" (no pressure, Gordon). They know he was only 59 last month, in much better shape than, say, Wayne Rooney to do the day job he still does better than most. With matching tan and hair colour, he looks the part.
What part? It should be obvious: a big one. While plenty of Blair's old and trusted friends know that he and Cherie were always over-impressed by money and the rich ("they'll never accept you as one of their own, no matter how much you make", one chum warned him) they also know that even they probably feel they've got enough to pay off the mortgage(s) and run assorted charities dedicated to faith, sport and the rest. Blair meets a big payroll and insists he cares about them all. His hard-to-fathom company tax structure is on top-level advice. It's above board, he says. Honest.
As Middle East peace envoy, he hasn't brought peace (who has?); both friend and foe agree that he tries to do too much, none of it well enough. But he's clearly touting for something big and public. He's restless, a bit bored even.
He told Marr he wanted to stay on as PM, and would have done the EU president's job in 2009 if they'd have had him. Beleaguered Europe preferred a nonentity and is in even greater need of political bigger hitters today. Pity Tony's such a lousy economist. He wouldn't be the first ex-PM to despise the Lords but end up there. But as what? A dogged pro-euro man whose country is hostile? A talent his own party mistrusts?
What about the UN? Not after Iraq. But wasted talent is a waste.
