I agree that they are/were both hard to like, but the same could be said of almost all people involved in politics. I think everyone in politics, certainly at that level, has to be there because they have an inflated ego. I found Blair incredibly smarmy and his delivery in public speeches was so slow it just screamed "I think you're all stupid" to me. It reminded me of the condescending way we tend to talk to elderly people.
As it was New Labour, which was more Labour Adjacent (I think Tory lite was a bit overdramatic but I can see why people used it) but even so Mandelson still always came across as slimy, disingenuous, untrustworthy and self-interested. I didn't see anything that suggested he was a believer in what Labour should stand for and the sleaze, the backhanders seemed far more in keeping with the Tory governments I'd grown up with. Campbell I felt did have some belief in traditional Labour values, though I think he also believed in some Tory ones too. I certainly wouldn't have considered him a socialist or to have much in common with the Labour party of the 70's and 80's. Plus I think his ego made him feel he was better than people.
I agree that they are/were both hard to like, but the same could be said of almost all people involved in politics. I think everyone in politics, certainly at that level, has to be there because they have an inflated ego. I found Blair incredibly smarmy and his delivery in public speeches was so slow it just screamed "I think you're all stupid" to me. It reminded me of the condescending way we tend to talk to elderly people.
I think that overly deliberate way of speaking is to wrestle with every word to ensure they dont say things they shouldn't. Offers time for thought and reflection without often actually saying very much. It's something that's been carried on by almost everyone else since then.
I think that overly deliberate way of speaking is to wrestle with every word to ensure they dont say things they shouldn't. Offers time for thought and reflection without often actually saying very much. It's something that's been carried on by almost everyone else since then.
I get that, it's just somehow his didn't come over as deliberating over words just as talking down. I don't know if it was Blair's rhythm, his intonation or the gestures that came with it, but his just seemed more condescending than everyone elses. Cameron's I felt was quite bad as well but Blair's was just a whole other level for me.