How different things would be if Blair had sacked Brown

As the Blair memo shows us today, the grinning charlatan had the right idea. He stayed too long, and as a result his own popularity was destroyed. But he knew how to fight the Tories. If his “trust schools” idea had not been torn to shreds by Labour rebels (who were directed by Brown), Michael Gove would not have an education policy. If Blair had kept his nerve with welfare reform in 1998, then he would have used the boom years to do what Chris Grayling will do in office – and the Tories would not have a welfare policy. The Blairites knew (after 2001) that the country wants more power in their own hands (over health, education and, yes, tax) not a Great Helsman to lead them into a new direction.

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Matthew Lynn

Spain will regret its 100 per cent expat property tax

As Peter Oborne observed many years ago, fundamentally Blair believes in the market.