27 reasons to say no to Labour's next leader

May 17, 1994

Amid fears that Blair's mass appeal may lead him into difficulty with Labour traditionalists, Parris decides to take preemptive action, writing a "thoroughly nasty" column in order to boost his streetcred among CND badge-wearing lefties.

Founding principle scrapped

October 7, 1994

Parris describes the fractious debate on Blair's proposal to scrap Clause Four of Labour's constitution - its long-standing commitment to nationalisation - and the battle of the Blairites against the Labour left, led by Peter "Bobby" Mandelson.

Blair the evangelist blesses faithful come to bear witness

April 30, 1997

Parris, following Blair on the 1997 election campaign trail, finds the Labour leader is a man who speaks only in soundbites.

Oh Lord, now Tony thinks he's Moses

November 24,2001

Parris likens Blair's career to the life of Moses, and lays out his plot plan for a Monty Python's Life of Tony.

Are we witnessing the madness of Tony Blair?

March 29, 2003

Days after Blair sends troops into Iraq as part of a US-led bid to topple Saddam Hussein, Parris ponders whether the Prime Minister's unerring self-conviction has tipped over into a messianical lunacy.

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