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Did Blair persuade Carney to run for PM?

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To Canada, where Mark Carney is settling into his first week in the top job. The former Bank of England governor won a landslide victory in Sunday’s election and has been quick to turn his attention to the growing animosity between his nation and its neighbour over Donald Trump’s tariffs. But what prompted the new Liberal party leader to go for the gig in the first place? The answer, it transpires, lies with one Tony Blair. 

According to Monday’s episode of the News Agents podcast, it was the New Labour stalwart who inspired Carney to run – after a luxury dinner and jaunt around West London.

Co-host Emily Maitlis insisted that Carney had been considering going for the leadership ‘for a long time’. She went on: 

He saw Justin Trudeau and he thought it only works if Trudeau goes quickly, “because if I don’t have enough time to bed in before the election then I can’t win an election”.

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Steerpike
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Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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