黑洞社区

So, here we are in The Red Lion on Whitehall, the favourite drinking den of British politicos and the place that is renowned, incorrectly, as the very spot where Charlie Whelan, Gordon Brown鈥檚 former spin doctor, briefed journalists about European Monetary Union in 鈥�97.

And talking of double-talk, 黑洞社区鈥檚 guests each come up with obscure reasons for why they are taking the alcohol out of 鈥渂uilding buys a pint鈥�. 鈥淚鈥檓 driving to Durham to talk to scaffolders about the CIS tax scheme,鈥� claims Liz.

Stephen says he鈥檚 off to the opera and doesn鈥檛 want to be so off his head that he ends up singing along. Kurt, an ex-hack who is sadly letting down his former profession, laments that he falls asleep after one pint.

And spin is what they all seem to think Blair鈥檚 legacy will be. Stephen says the continual repeating of public spending numbers has proved beneficial for the Construction Confederation: 鈥淚t鈥檚 kept us in a job, because we have to cut through the spin to explain what is new and what isn鈥檛.鈥�

Kurt agrees, chuckling at the gullibility of journalists everywhere: 鈥淚t keeps me busy. Journalists are always phoning me about some announcement of 拢500m for roads that doesn鈥檛 really exist.鈥�

Inevitably, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are issues that Blair will be remembered for: 鈥淢y son was born during the Falklands war,鈥� says Stephen. 鈥淎nd I never thought that two decades later my son would serve in Afghanistan.鈥�

鈥淚 will forever think of Iraq and Blair,鈥� sighs Kurt.

Stephen recalls a meeting with Blair: 鈥淲e went into Number 10 and he was in the cloakroom. Peter Commins, the confederation鈥檚 chairman, asked him if he was there to take the coats.鈥�

鈥淎lways known for his tact!鈥� laughs Liz. 鈥淏ut what ever would you say to him?鈥�

Stephen admits that the CIS tax system might not be the best topic to start off with.

Kurt recalls the time he walked out of the Highcliffe Hotel in Bournemouth during a Labour party conference at the seaside resort. 鈥淚 was carrying my bag and was wondering why all the world鈥檚 press were looking at me, and there behind me was Tony Blair in his orange make-up.鈥�

鈥淭he same happened to me!鈥� exclaims Liz. 鈥淚 was leaving a hotel and the press was there as I was followed by Lenny Henry when it was found out he鈥檇 had a fling.鈥�

鈥淒awn French gave him a right kicking,鈥� smiles Kurt approvingly.

French has clearly had more of an impact on the trio than Blair 鈥� Stephen then recalls that the last time he was at the opera, she had a non-singing part. 鈥淭hat was the first time she appeared at the Royal Opera, I bet.鈥�

Perhaps this is a conclusion to the conversation Blair himself would have liked. When he was a youngster at Fettes College he loved acting, with Mark Antony in a production of Julius Caesar considered to be his defining performance.

Kurt laughs: 鈥淲hatever happened to that young man?鈥�