Tony Blair (1953-), Prime Minister

Anthony Charles Lynton ('Tony') Blair

Sitter associated with 12 portraits
Prime Minister for three terms, 1997-2007, and Labour's longest serving Prime Minister. Tony Blair was born in Edinburgh and educated at Fettes College and St John's College, Oxford. He was called to the Bar in 1976 and began a career as a barrister. He was elected to parliament as Labour MP for Sedgefield in 1983. On the death of John Smith in 1994 he was selected as Leader of the Labour Party and set to modernise the party, as 'New Labour'. He is remembered domestically for implementing the Human Rights Act, devolution of government for Scotland and Wales, and for the 'Good Friday Agreement' in Northern Ireland, and internationally for his support for the American invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.