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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Gavin Cordon

Blair ignored warnings over Women’s Institute speech fiasco

Tony Blair addressing the Women’s Institute annual conference at Wembley Arena (Peter Jordan/PA) - (PA Archive)

Tony Blair ignored warnings to avoid “capital P politics” in his infamous address to the Women’s Institute, according to newly released government files.

The speech at Wembley Arena to an audience of 10,000 turned into a fiasco as the prime minister was heckled and slow-handclapped by WI members, furious he had used their conference as a platform for what they considered to be a “party political broadcast”.

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