As reported in the Bookseller, Tony Blair has cancelled his latest book signing due to the threat of protests, such as those in Dublin last week:
“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.”
Aw, the poor lamb. What a brave gesture. A strain on resources, you say? A hassle? Even a disruption? That’s awfully altruistic of you, Mr. Blair.
Still, if anyone fancy’s reading his memoirs, they might need to search more creatively:
“But a Facebook page was today inundated with pictures of the former prime minister’s book in odd places after thousands joined a group entitled “Subversively move Tony Blair’s memoirs to the crime section in bookshops“.
The Facebook page – which had more than 5,000 members by mid-afternoon – urges them to ‘make bookshops think twice about where they categorise our generations [sic] greatest war criminal’.”
You’ve got to admit that his reasoning for cancellation is quite intelligent. Yeah, you can still critique it, but when you think about it, his words are really well-chosen. You wouldn’t get that from Sarah Palin or George W. Bush.
It’s the years of greasy spin that have schooled him well.