I found myself obliged to watch the Channel 4 documentary on Tony Blair.

During the first two terms of his administration, I was a firm supporter of this young, reforming prime minister. He brought a new type of energy to the role, and his cabinet contained real heavyweights – or ‘big beasts’ (something noticeably missing from the current Labour government).

I was so enthralled by Blair that I even took him at his word when he commenced the joint enterprise with America and launched the war in Iraq.

Of course, the whole rationale behind the calamitous war was untrue. But more of that later.

Noel Doran: Jon Burrows has a choice whether to save Stormont

Blair’s greatest achievement was overseeing the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) along with Bertie Ahern and George Mitchell.

This is something which can never be taken away from the reputation of any of these individuals. Between them, they created the conditions for peace and cut through the Gordian knot which held the north back for decades.

Though credit must be given to John Major and Albert Reynolds for taking bigger risks for peace and laying the foundations for the GFA.

Blair as PM had domestic wins too: record levels of investment in education and health, the creation of the national minimum wage, civil partnerships and equality legislation, Sure Start, House of Lords reform, the Climate Change Act, Human Rights........

© The Irish News