Post-Political Poisons? Evaluating the 'Toxic' Dimensions of Tony Blair's Leadership

Important aspects of Tony Blair's leadership style were shaped by the perceived need to appease economic elites and to avoid public perceptions of disunity within the Labour Party. Yet Blair's approach produced some ‘toxic’ outcomes, notably contributing to: the economic crisis of 2008; increased public disaffection from formal politics; and the Iraq controversy. Blair's success owed much to his ‘post-ideological’ postures, and highly personalised style, yet at times these tools were used to mislead his supporters in damaging ways.