![]() On foreign affairs, he became increasingly convinced of Britain’s need to become more involved, joining the American bombing of Iraq in 1998. One of his biggest achievements came in 1998 when the Northern Irish peace process really made progress with the Good Friday Agreement. Important constitutional changes happened quickly, with Scottish and Welsh devolution, reform to the House of Lords, the Human Rights Act and a Freedom of Information Act. Succeeding John Major to the role, he officially became Prime Minister on. It was of little surprise when Labour won the 1997 general election by a landslide majority of 179. Tony Blair was seen as a new kind of politician with enormous charisma, arguably the finest opposition leader of modern times – even succeeding in reforming ‘Clause IV’ of the Labour constitution. Tony Blair won the following leadership contest overwhelmingly, having made an agreement with Gordon Brown that, if he didn’t stand, he would become a powerful chancellor should Labour win the next election. In 1994, his and Gordon Brown’s friendship was permanently changed when the Labour leader, John Smith, died suddenly. Tony Blair assumed several Shadow Cabinet roles before being made Shadow Home Secretary in 1992. ![]() Gordon Brown was also elected in 1983 and they became firm allies. ![]() He joined the Labour Party in 1975 and, in 1983, successfully fought for the safe seat of Sedgefield. After taking a gap year he attended the University of Oxford and studied Law after graduating he became a barrister. Tony Blair was born in 1953 in Edinburgh, Scotland.
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