Today The Guardian published some tasty titbits from Hugo Young’s forthcoming compendium of off-the-record briefings.
Every time he unofficially interviewed a political mover or shaker, Young noted down his impressions and the highlights of the conversation. A couple of morsels:
He is a man who is lightweight as a butterfly, skimming along the surface… He does lack gravitas, terribly so.
That was his rather damning verdict on Tony Blair. And:
I have seldom seen a less healthy-looking man. But he also has the sharpest mind, deeply engaged by the whole spectrum of issues… He just does not know how to distract himself from the problems of state and come down to the level of humanity.
Funnily enough, because Young died in 2003 and no-one was quite sure whether he intended his background notes to be printed or not, every person mentioned in the book had to consent to their publication.
I often wonder whether politicians read their bad press, but in this case they must have had to. It must have made for a few dreary afternoons.
olivershah.wordpress.com 