There is no doubt that Tony Blair has been a considerable figure in British and Labour party politics. He led Labour to three successive general election victories and is the party's greatest election winner. His governments form one of three successful progressive administrations since 1906. He has been a successful Prime Minster, who has set a new path for the public services and leaves Britain a better place than he found it in 1997.

But beyond those accomplishments, how considerable a figure he was and whether he could have left a larger mark are still unresolved questions, and this after more than a dozen biographies and hundreds of essays and articles. The interest has been and continues to be remarkable. Of prime ministers over the last century only Lloyd George, Churchill and Thatcher have commanded such attention. In that respect at least Blair is in the top rank.

To disappoint was probably always going to be Blair's fate, no matter how successful he was. In 1997 the opportunities seemed so immense. Of all the post-war new governments (1945, 1951, 1964, 1970, 1974 and 1979) none was as fortunate as Labour in 1997. Virtually all were hampered from the outset by a weak economy and/or a narrow or non-existent majority in parliament. But in 1997 Tony Blair was blessed with a strong economy and a large majority in the House of Commons.