Tony Blair has certainly seen the highs and lows of British politics. As a leader of the Labour party, he successfully took office as Prime Minister of the UK in 1997, after years of Tory rule. It was not just that the people were sick and tired of the Conservative government and its policies, but rather that Blair offered a fresh face to politics, and so did New Labour. Ultimately, the relationship soured, and the great British public turned on Blair and his policies, but that is politics for you. One minute the glory the next the blame.

Tony Blair was born on 6th May 1953, in Edinburgh, Scotland. His full name is Anthony Charles Lynton Blair. Despite Blair’s rather middle class English accent, he did not come from a wealthy family or wealthy parents. His parents Leo and Hazel were ordinary down to earth people.

During Tony’s early life, his father worked as a junior tax inspector whilst studying at night. This led to the Blair’s moving to Australia for three years in the fifties with Leo now a qualified lecturer in law. Tony’s elder brother William is a high court judge and Tony and Cherie Blair have more than a passing interest in legal matters. Tony also has a sister. Returning to the UK in the late fifties, they lived initially on Glasgow before moving to Durham.

Tony Blair was fortunate enough to enjoy a public school education. This would have been possible because of Leo’s role as a lecturer at Durham University. Tony was a bit of a rebel without a clue at Uni and he was not expected to do well. He went on to study jurisprudence at St John's College, Oxford. Blair had flirted with a career as a rock musician, playing guitar and joining a band. Whilst at Oxford his religious faith developed and also a love of politics.

On 29th March 1980 Tony married Cherie Booth estranged daughter of UK actor Tony Booth. Cherie was also a Roman Catholic. The couple now have four children, one of whom, namely Leo was born in Number 10 Downing Street, the home of the UK Prime Minister. He became the first child to be born there for 150 years.

Blair became the Sedgefield Member of Parliament, MP, in 1983 and continued to represent this constituency until 2007. He became Leader of the Labour Party in 1994, at a time when Labour were changing in an attempt to win around the British electorate. He won a general election to become the youngest UK Prime Minister, for 200 years, in 1997. He stepped down, reluctantly, as Prime Minister in 2007 and ceased his other political roles.

Within a short time of his political resignation, Blair was appointed Middle East envoy working on behalf of the US, Russia, the UN and the EU. February 11th 2011 has seen the military take power in Egypt after 18 days of protests. The protesters have won through and ousted President Mubarek but as yet his replacement is unknown. As Middle East envoy Blair will have his work cut out.

His involvement in the WOMAD, weapons of mass destruction, fiasco, left young men and women from the UK fighting and dying in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are not alone. So many countries have been involved in these conflicts losing their young military personnel also. Blair is still under investigation for his actions.

For many ordinary UK citizens Tony Blair helped create a minimum wage and countless other benefits for those in need. Blair’s Labour government made major improvements to healthcare in the UK. Tony Blair achieved his ambition of three terms in office, albeit the last term was cut short by his enforced resignation. Love him or loathe him Tony Blair continues to be hard to ignore.