The Blair regime as seen from the left
Pretty Straight Guys - Book Review
Contemporary Review, March, 2004 by Ralph Berry
But there is an acid account of the Blairs' rebirth in the 'Temazcal', a steam bath encased in a brick pyramid of Aztec design. As the Blairs, reduced to their swimming costumes, 'smeared each other with melon, papaya and mud from the jungle, they confronted their fears and emitted a primal scream'. The costume-changes of the chief role-player are passed over, and indeed it would take a Panofsky to expound the moral iconology of Tony Blair's shirts. Mr Cohen might have referred to Blair's infamous plum velour suit, of which it was said 'Cherie bought it for herself, but it didn't fit'. But the satirists always have their way in the end. All the signs are that the Left-Right critique of the Blair Government is hardening into form, and action. If 2004 is to be the crisis year, it will see a giant pincer movement of Opposition and Old Labour.
Contemporary Review Company Ltd.