Last September in a speech at Federal Conference, Tim Farron referenced Tony Blair with a phrase which stuck in my mind: 'I see Tony Blair the way I see the Stone Roses… I preferred the early work!'

He cannot have imagined then that Blair would be in the headlines again this week after a speech for Open Britain in which he urged the country to rise up and form a cross-party movement to oppose Brexit. Objective observers praised his speech as being articulate and well thought-through, and it reminded us again why he was considered one of the most skilful communicators of his generation. Of course his intervention was greeted with immediate derision from Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, Nigel Farage… and Jeremy Corbyn (which says something in itself, but that's another matter.)

But what I found most interesting was the reaction from people who actually agreed with his point of view. Caroline Lucas called it a 'staggeringly unhelpful intervention from a man who betrayed UK's trust', and Twitter & radio phone-ins were awash with people condemning the man & questioning his motivation (they believed it was merely a money-making gimmick ). Tim Farron was one of only a few politicians who supported him, but it seems many people (both Leavers & Remainers; Left & Right) could not separate the man from the message and resorted to personal attack, rather than listening to what he was saying.

I had realised, of course, that Blair was unpopular, but I don't think I had appreciated until then just how hated he is. And it is sad that his intervention, however well-intended, may not prove to be the catalyst that we need, and might actually turn some people away from our cause. I hope not.

For the record, I am not a Blair fan by any means- I believe that our intervention in Iraq, and the deceit that underpinned it, was one of the most shameful episodes in our recent history. But I do acknowledge his role in bringing in the minimum wage, working tax credits, and greater investment in school-building and the NHS. Like Tim, I believe that his earlier work was good, even if it became tainted by what happened afterwards.

I also believe that the Iraq travesty was caused by Blair being too keen to curry favour with Bush, to prove that the US could rely on the 'special relationship'- at any cost to ourselves. And so I feel uneasy about Theresa May's current desperation to cosy up to Trump. Back then, at least we had other friends and allies in Europe. But now with Brexit, we are more alone and much more vulnerable… what price will Trump exact from us for his 'friendship' now, I wonder!

I leave you with one final thought: did we ever imagine a day that John Major & Tony Blair would find themselves on the same side …. And yet still be ignored by current Conservative & Labour leadership?

Take care, and speak soon

Anita