Tony Blair’s final press appearance - and Arnie came too

By Tomos Livingstone
IC Wales

TONY Blair spent his last day in power with Californian Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Political Editor Tomos Livingstone went to say hasta la vista, Tony.

Blair and Arnie’s get-together on the Prime Minister’s final full day was a somewhat bizarre sight. But political editor Tomos Livingstone watched the routine unfold in businesslike fashion

IT WAS the obvious joke to make, but Tony Blair made it anyway.

Striding out to meet the waiting press for the last time as Prime Minister, and flanked by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, he said, “My press officer said to me, whatever else you do this morning, don’t say – ‘I’ll be back’.”

It was a reminder to those who still can’t quite believe that Tony Blair is going to stop being Prime Minister this afternoon and hand over to Gordon Brown.

And it was apposite that someone so often criticised for being a political actor was joined by an actor who became an unlikely politician.

It was a businesslike affair, with both men fielding questions on climate change and how the G8 deal reached last month would work.

Which was a shame, as the journalists were hoping that Mr Schwarzenegger would talk like he does on the American electoral circuit, where he says things like, “To those critics who are so pessimistic about our economy, I say: Don’t be economic girlie men!”

It would have been much more fun if he’d have taken questions on Mr Blair’ s decade in office.

“I say to people who think it was wrong to invade Iraq and think inequality is getting worse – Don’t be such girlie men!”

Then Mr Blair could have said “Hasta la vista” and roared off into the sunset with his new buddy on a Harley Davidson.

Sadly, all that happened was that they both behaved like statesmen, then got into a Government car and went to a school in Hammersmith. Oh well.

Still, after his speech two weeks ago when he criticised the “feral beasts” of the media, you wondered whether Mr Blair had been watching some of Mr Schwarzenegger’s films.

Perhaps he sees occasionally imagines himself as the killer in Terminator, spearing those irksome hacks who stand in his way with an extendable metal arm, on his way to bringing peace to the Middle East.

But all he told us was, “This will be the last press conference I will be giving to you guys. That’s something I’m really going to miss.”

We couldn’t get him on anything else he’d miss, but he did give a broad hint that we hadn’t heard the last of him.

“Maybe one of the benefits when I do step down – and I remember President Clinton once saying this to me – is you can then focus on specific issues with a greater intensity than when you are having to deal with the whole gamut of issues as Prime Minister.

“We will see.”

Indeed. Asked if he had any advice for the Chancellor, he replied simply, “No. Because he is perfectly capable of doing the job on his own, thank you.”

You suspect he was thinking, ‘And the chances of him taking any notice are zero anyway, as you lot well know’.

Ten years ago, the crowds were chanting “Tony! Tony!” Yesterday, on the final day, it was West London schoolchildren chanting “Terminator! Terminator!”. I wonder whether they thought Gordon was coming too.

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