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Blair Cancels Book Signing After Protests
Tony Blair has cancelled a book signing in central London on Wednesday after telling Sky News he feared it would be disrupted by protesters. When the former Prime Minister visited Dublin, protesters threw shoes and eggs and one attempted to peform a citizen's arrest. He has now confirmed his second public appearance, an event at a branch of Waterstone's in Piccadilly will be scrapped. Mr Blair said: "I have decided not to go ahead with the signing as I don't want the public to be inconvenienced by the inevitable hassle caused by protestors. "I know the Metropolitan Police would, as ever, have done a superb job in managing any disruption but I do not wish to impose an extra strain on police resources, simply for a book signing. "I'm really sorry for those - as ever the majority - who would have come to have their books signed by me in person. I hope they understand," he added in a statement. Dominic Myers, managing director for Waterstone's, said: "It is a matter of regret that because of the likely actions of a minority, our customers are now not able to meet a three-times elected Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, whose book has become our fastest-selling autobiography ever." The shop will offer a limited number of signed copies instead, he added. Earlier, Mr Blair told Sky News it was "pretty typical" to be greeted by critics because 10 years in Downing Street had turned him into a "divisive figure". "You've just got to get used to it and I have over the years," he added. Anti-war protesters had already pledged to disrupt this week's event and customers were warned they will have to leave their bags and phones with shop security staff. Mr Blair has returned to the spotlight to promote his autobiography, A Journey, which was published last week. During the interview with Sky News' Eamonn Holmes, Mr Blair defended his attacks on Gordon Brown, insisting their differences were "political, not personal". He told Holmes it was the Labour party's decision to choose Mr Brown as leader and it would not have been right to "condemn" him. "He could be difficult and things were very, very difficult towards the end, we had a very severe disagreement about policy," he said. But the former Prime Minister said they remain friends and he would shake his hand if he bumped into him. Mr Blair said the one time he "missed doing the job" of being in No 10 was during the financial crisis because he has "strong views" about how it should be handled. Asked by Holmes if he was finished with British politics, he replied: "I should think it's more like British politics is finished with me." Earlier, the former PM offered his first criticism of the coalition's policies, attacking their ideas for prisons reform. Mr Blair, who famously promised to be "tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime", told The Daily Telegraph Britain should learn from developing countries that "just don't accept" criminality. Mr Blair told the newspaper he "profoundly disagrees" with the approach of Justice Secretary Ken Clarke. In a speech in June, Mr Clarke said prison was too often "a costly and ineffectual approach that fails to turn criminals into law-abiding citizens".(skynews)
Paedophile Headteacher Jailed For 21 Years
A former headteacher who abused at least a dozen schoolboys has been jailed for 21 years. Derek Slade was last week convicted of more than 50 offences of child abuse during the 1970s and 1980s. The 61-year-old was found guilty at Ipswich Crown Court of beating and sexually assaulting 12 boys between the ages of eight and 13 between 1978 and 1983. Slade ran St George's private school, which was initially based in Wicklewood, Norfolk, and which then moved to Great Finborough, Suffolk. The jury heard that Slade hit boys with a slipper, a table tennis bat and his bare hand, then ordered youngsters to write about "whackings I have had". He was arrested after former pupils complained two years ago. One victim said he had never told his parents what had happened, while another described Slade's assaults as "reigns of terror".(skynews)
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Tony Blair has cancelled a book signing in central London on Wednesday after telling Sky News he feared it would be disrupted by protesters. When the former Prime Minister visited Dublin, protesters threw shoes and eggs and one attempted to peform a citizen's arrest. He has now confirmed his second public appearance, an event at a branch of Waterstone's in Piccadilly will be scrapped. Mr Blair said: "I have decided not to go ahead with the signing as I don't want the public to be inconvenienced by the inevitable hassle caused by protestors. "I know the Metropolitan Police would, as ever, have done a superb job in managing any disruption but I do not wish to impose an extra strain on police resources, simply for a book signing. "I'm really sorry for those - as ever the majority - who would have come to have their books signed by me in person. I hope they understand," he added in a statement. Dominic Myers, managing director for Waterstone's, said: "It is a matter of regret that because of the likely actions of a minority, our customers are now not able to meet a three-times elected Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, whose book has become our fastest-selling autobiography ever." The shop will offer a limited number of signed copies instead, he added. Earlier, Mr Blair told Sky News it was "pretty typical" to be greeted by critics because 10 years in Downing Street had turned him into a "divisive figure". "You've just got to get used to it and I have over the years," he added. Anti-war protesters had already pledged to disrupt this week's event and customers were warned they will have to leave their bags and phones with shop security staff. Mr Blair has returned to the spotlight to promote his autobiography, A Journey, which was published last week. During the interview with Sky News' Eamonn Holmes, Mr Blair defended his attacks on Gordon Brown, insisting their differences were "political, not personal". He told Holmes it was the Labour party's decision to choose Mr Brown as leader and it would not have been right to "condemn" him. "He could be difficult and things were very, very difficult towards the end, we had a very severe disagreement about policy," he said. But the former Prime Minister said they remain friends and he would shake his hand if he bumped into him. Mr Blair said the one time he "missed doing the job" of being in No 10 was during the financial crisis because he has "strong views" about how it should be handled. Asked by Holmes if he was finished with British politics, he replied: "I should think it's more like British politics is finished with me." Earlier, the former PM offered his first criticism of the coalition's policies, attacking their ideas for prisons reform. Mr Blair, who famously promised to be "tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime", told The Daily Telegraph Britain should learn from developing countries that "just don't accept" criminality. Mr Blair told the newspaper he "profoundly disagrees" with the approach of Justice Secretary Ken Clarke. In a speech in June, Mr Clarke said prison was too often "a costly and ineffectual approach that fails to turn criminals into law-abiding citizens".(skynews)
Paedophile Headteacher Jailed For 21 Years
A former headteacher who abused at least a dozen schoolboys has been jailed for 21 years. Derek Slade was last week convicted of more than 50 offences of child abuse during the 1970s and 1980s. The 61-year-old was found guilty at Ipswich Crown Court of beating and sexually assaulting 12 boys between the ages of eight and 13 between 1978 and 1983. Slade ran St George's private school, which was initially based in Wicklewood, Norfolk, and which then moved to Great Finborough, Suffolk. The jury heard that Slade hit boys with a slipper, a table tennis bat and his bare hand, then ordered youngsters to write about "whackings I have had". He was arrested after former pupils complained two years ago. One victim said he had never told his parents what had happened, while another described Slade's assaults as "reigns of terror".(skynews)
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