Michael Howard: 'Tony Blair was a brilliant politician. But, ultimately, he was a failed prime minister'

Much has been written about the apparent candour of Tony Blair's memoir. He even concedes that on occasion he stretched the truth past breaking point. And he asserts that "politicians are obliged from time to time to conceal the full truth, to bend it and even distort it, where the interests of the bigger strategic goal demand it be done."

There is no doubt that Blair benefited greatly from this elastic approach. During the 2005 general election, he described Gordon Brown as "my friend" and said: "Whatever speculation is in the papers, we work pretty closely together." And who could forget the occasion when they ate ice-cream together to persuade people they were joined at the hip.