Broken Vows - Tom Bower

When Tony Blair became prime minister in May 1997, he was, at
forty-three, the youngest person to hold that office since 1812. With a
landslide majority, his approval rating was 93 per cent and he went on
to become Labour's longest-serving premier. On his first
election campaign, Blair had promised that 'New Labour' would modernize
Britain, freeing it from sleaze, special interests and government
secrecy. He vowed to give priority to social justice and equal
opportunity for all.

So what went wrong? The invasion of Iraq
was particularly controversial and unleashed public fury against a
government accused of not being open and honest in its march to war in
Iraq and Afghanistan. Alastair Campbell's 'dodgy' dossiers about WMDs
sparked outrage, but did the contamination of New Labour's spin stretch
beyond the wars?

What is the truth behind Blair's claims of
rebuilding Britain's schools, hospitals and welfare services? Why did he
covertly open the doors to mass immigration? And how is it that the
same man who risked his government to destroy Slobodan MiloSevic and
Saddam Hussein has, since leaving office, earned millions of pounds
serving dictators?

Tom Bower was one of those who in 1997
looked on in excited anticipation as Blair took up residence in Downing
Street. Now, with unprecedented access to more than 180 Whitehall
officials, military officers and politicians, he has uncovered the full
story of Blair's decade in power. To distil the magic and the myths of
an era all Britons experienced but have not properly understood, he has
followed Blair's trail since his resignation - to Asia, the Middle East
and America, where he has built an extraordinary commercial empire
advising tycoons and tyrants.

The result is the political
thriller of the year - a dramatic re-evaluation of Tony Blair which
disentangles the mystery of an extraordinary politician - and
illuminates the ultimate tragedy of power.