Tony Blair: A Legacy of Change

Early Life and Career

Tony Blair was born on May 6, 1953, in Edinburgh, Scotland. He studied law at the University of Oxford and then worked as a barrister. He entered politics in 1983, when he was elected to Parliament as the Labour MP for Sedgefield.

Leader of the Labour Party

Blair became leader of the Labour Party in 1994. He led the party to a landslide victory in the 1997 general election, ending 18 years of Conservative rule. Blair's victory was due in part to his modernization of the Labour Party, which he made more electable by appealing to centrist voters.

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

As Prime Minister, Blair oversaw a number of significant changes in the United Kingdom. He introduced the National Minimum Wage, devolved power to Scotland and Wales, and signed the Good Friday Agreement, which brought an end to the conflict in Northern Ireland.

The Iraq War

Blair's decision to join the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 was one of the most controversial of his premiership. The war was unpopular with the British public, and Blair was accused of misleading Parliament about the reasons for going to war.

Legacy

Blair resigned as Prime Minister in 2007. His legacy is complex and contested. He is credited with modernizing the Labour Party and making it electable, and with overseeing a number of significant changes in the United Kingdom. However, his decision to go to war in Iraq remains a stain on his record.