Ping! An email arrives in Steerpike’s inbox. It seems that the Tony Blair Institute – the eponymous creature of the perma-tanned politician – has gone on a bit of a recruitment drive. Not content with having, in their words, ‘100 staff embedded in governments around the world’, Blair’s babes have now bagged themself a general and top scientist too. How long before they add an Archbishop?
For this week, Sir Tony’s Institute proudly announced that Sir Patrick Vallance, the UK’s Chief Scientific Adviser during Covid, is joining them as a ‘Strategic counsellor’ alongside Sir Nick Carter, the former Chief of the Defence Staff. All those knights, let’s hope they have a round table…
In an oleaginous press release, Blair himself oozed that:
The depth and breadth of expertise they will bring in providing high-level strategic insight and advice within the Institute, and for the governments with which we work, will be invaluable. Our work with countries on peace and security and the opportunities provided by advances in science and technology will be enhanced enormously by their contributions.
And Britain looks likely to be one of those lucky countries when the ideas-free Sir Keir Starmer gets into power. Already, the TBI is helpfully firing off press releases ahead of next week’s Budget, replete with polls and quotes intoning solemnly about the importance of ‘long-term investment in public services’. Just imagine how much more of this we can expect when Tony’s cronies return from their 17-year stint in exile.
For some, at least, things can only get better.
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