Reports are coming in that Tony Blair is set to stand down as a peace envoy to the Middle East. AP is reporting that the former Prime Minister has tendered his resignation to the Quartet on the Middle East — consisting of representatives from the US, EU, Russia and the UN — and will leave in June. Blair has worked for the Quartet for several years, joining on a wave of publicity and hope in 2007. But with the collapse of the US-led peace talks last year, as well as continual questions about his business links, his efforts to bring peace to the region have been doomed.
Given that Blair’s foreign policy reputation is already toxic both here and abroad, his failure to make a breakthrough with the Quartet will only damage his legacy further. As we discuss in this week’s Spectator (out tomorrow), Isis have created a huge foreign policy headache — one that neither Britain, nor America wishes to tackle, thanks to the legacy of Iraq.
Blair’s exit from the international stage comes at an unstable time in British politics. At a time when the Labour party is trying to decide whether to reinvent the Blairite creed, the former PM is likely to dive into the leadership contest at some point, promoting whichever candidate is the most likely to move back towards New Labour. Then there’s the EU referendum. As a long-time advocate of further integration, Blair will want to play a role in the ‘In’ campaign. Assuming, that is, he can use his diplomatic skills to convince the campaign that his presence won’t harm their cause.
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