When Tony Blair was in Sydney 3 weeks ago I went to his talk (didn't pay !)

The security was as good as a US president..dozens of armed cops and bodyguards

(By contrast I went to a hotel book signing by Margaret Thatcher ten years ago and she arrived at the hotel with the British High Commissioner and one driver/bodyguard)

Blair is quite unique in that he must be the most hated former British PM ever. If you mention his name to any ex-pat here, right or left, they say they would dearly love to shoot him !

At Blair's speech..the room was half empty and the organisers had to drop ticket prices by half. No media bothered to attend. He got nil publicity.

The Czech Republic president got heaps more attention a week later.

here is just one reason why :

Bring Back British Rail !

Interesting article Veritas,and I use the railways a lot,both here and abroad.
Rail is best left in public ownership,but the Looooooney right never understood transport policy,and Major just thought of the quick injection of cash to bribe the voters with in '97,not long term policy.