Portrait of the Week – 1 May 2004

Fifty-two former ambassadors, high commissioners and governors criticised Mr Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, for supporting an American policy in Iraq that was ‘doomed to failure’. ‘The conduct of the war in Iraq has made it clear that there was no effective plan for the post-Saddam settlement,’ their open letter said. It also spoke of ‘one-sided and illegal’ policies over Israel, which meant ‘abandoning the principles which for nearly four decades have guided international efforts to restore peace in the Holy Land’. The letter was co-ordinated by Mr Oliver Miles, a former ambassador to Libya, and its supporters included Sir Crispin Tickell. There was a certain amount of grumbling among members of the Cabinet because Mr Blair had announced without their approval the referendum on the European Union constitution. In a speech on immigration, Mr Blair said: ‘We have begun a top-to-bottom analysis of the immigration system.’ Mr David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, is to introduce a Bill in the autumn making identity cards, costing at least £35, compulsory before 2013; 10,000 people began trials of biometric cards immediately. Foreign visitors would not have to have a card. A hearing of the special immigration appeals commission before which Abu Hamza, the hook-handed Muslim cleric, is appealing against a decision by Mr Blunkett to revoke his British citizenship and so leave him open to deportation, was adjourned until 10 January next year. The Royal Mail dropped morning deliveries to many parts, and was obliged to pay millions of pounds compensation to customers for delays on top of this. Dixons is to close more than 100 underperforming branches out of 320 shops. A draft national curriculum for religious education advocated the teaching, in addition to Christianity, of ‘secular philosophies; for example, humanism’, ‘the importance of the environment’ and ‘human sexuality’. Michael Parkinson, the chat-show host, left the BBC after 33 years for ITV because his Saturday-evening slot will be taken by football.