-
Protests outside Eden Park where Tony Blair is giving a speech - Source: ONE News -
Watch Video
-
Related
This is the story of how I blew the chance to make a quick $4500 on the job by trying to arrest Tony Blair.
The former British PM strides into a huge banquet hall at Eden Park to no ripple of applause from 300-odd seated diners.
The show is running late. Odd when you consider Blair arrived from Melbourne by private jet - so they've started serving the mains and ditched the spotlight and theatrical entrance.
Flashing a dimmer version of the megawatt smile that he wore on the night in 1997 when he led Labour to power in Britain, Blair has to make do instead with a polite nod from National's Nikki Kaye and David Farrar, seated at the outer edge of the huddle of lunch guests.
I'm in the corner, wondering whether I can nick the half glass of vino abandoned by MC Eric Young and pondering further if I've just blown the chance to pocket some extra cash on the job by performing a citizen's arrest on the man the people outside accuse of war crimes.
Well, not just the people outside - they have a legal opinion from an Auckland University lecturer and the backing of British columnist George Monbiot, who's organised the said bounty on Blair. More details here if you're interested.
In truth, I doubt I'd have made it even if I'd decided to breach all journalistic standards of objectivity and have a crack - everywhere here Blair has been shadowed by at least two or three members of what look like the NZ Police Diplomatic Protection Squad. I wonder who is paying for that.
Even his arrival at the airport was a closely guarded affair, which you may see later in the pictures of airport security ordering our camera away from a car park popular for plane spotters as the Blair charter landed.
As I write, Blair has warmed the crowd with a few good rugby compliments - nice stadium, notice I'm wearing a white shirt (unlike those rogues from the England team who plan to don charcoal for the RWC).
Blair's warmed them further with an anecdote about his first text message and the fact that he wasn't allowed a mobile during his ten years as British PM - so much the better now it turns out his voicemail probably wasn't that secure.
But in between more jokes about speaking bad French and soothsaying that Europe and the US will have no choice but to reform their pensions and benefits schemes, there's precious little talk of the war that those outside are trying to remind the world about.
Ireland where he brought peace, yes and the Arab Spring, but no mention of Iraq. Not until prompted by a question from Labour MP Jacinda Ardern.
Blair was in power in Britain for ten years and has been gone for four. Is he still relevant?
The small clutch of activists with very pithy slogans and the tables inside paid for by Telecom, Vodafone, Westpac, BNZ and The Radio Network among others suggest for some Blair still has some allure and attraction. And, in others, the power to invoke revulsion.
What did you think of the visit? Have your say on the messageboard below.
Latest NZ News Video
-
ONE News Minute 9am update: May 26 (1:00)
-
Kids cough up $14m for Government (1:50)
-
Education ministry 'barbaric' (1:55)
Add a Comment:
Post new commentmenacerec said on 2011-11-01 @ 17:33 NZDT: Report abusive post
Blair certainly should be arrested. It's nothing short of a disgrace that he is allowed to ponce around giving mindless speeches to the flocks of sheep who follow him.
L Tee said on 2011-10-12 @ 09:16 NZDT: Report abusive post
Blair should be arrested
annej said on 2011-07-29 @ 16:23 NZDT: Report abusive post
Of course Blair should be arrested for war crimes,it was not really a war as such,it was an attack on a country without legitimacy. The others involved,Bush and Howard also should be arrested for their involvement. This is what the people want around the world,however because of who they are they are allowed to get away with it,and still fly around the world in private jets and in the process costing tax payers for their pressence,this is also criminal,but thats coruption and eliteism.