We, the general public, often bemoan the lack of high-quality politicians in Britain. We can’t be blamed for that. We are too often faced with a famine rather than a feast in that respect; too often faced with a Hobson’s choice when deciding who we want to lead. It is perhaps for that reason that, when we find a politician who is truly brilliant, we find it hard to let go.

For the 21st century, that politician is Sir Anthony Charles Lynton Blair. There’s a reason why Sir Tony is Labour’s most electorally successful leader by a considerable distance, and that is because he has a near-unique ability to understand what the British population thinks and what the British population wants.

Now a septuagenarian, he’s at it again. In a new report on climate change and net zero policies, Sir Tony has in essence called for us to rip it up and start again. He argues that "though most people will accept that climate change is a reality caused by human activity, they're turning away from the politics of the issue because they believe the proposed solutions are not founded on good policy".

He has hit the nail on the head. Action on climate change has increasingly become the preserve of the wealthy, because the wealthy are the only people who are able to afford the largesse. Sir Tony goes further, tapping into a strong national undertone when he suggests that the “alarmist” debate on climate change is “riven with irrationality”.

We should pay close attention. Life comes with harsh realities, and the harsh reality of a journey to net........

© Herald Scotland