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Article: Don't get depressed; just see the `big picture' in Northern Ireland Mr Blair's greatest strength, and Northern Ireland's greatest hope, is his policy of devolution
- Article from:
- The Independent (London, England)
- Article date:
- July 16, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 1999 The Independent - London. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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THE BREAKDOWN of the peace process is the lowest moment in Tony
Blair's premiership. He has discovered, as all prime ministers do at
some point, the limits of his own power. There will be fewer jokes
about his ability to walk on water from now on. Normally in Britain,
newish prime ministers discover their political frailties when they
collide with an underperforming economy. It has taken the nightmare
of Northern Ireland for Mr Blair to recognise the limits of his own
persuasive charms.
He has spent more time on Northern Ireland than any other issue,
but what is left of his Herculean labours now? Even Mo Mowlam's plea
for "no recriminations" in her Commons statement yesterday is being ...