Blair profile: Youngest British PM since 1812

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Source: CCTV.com | 05-11-2007 08:11

Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair announces his resignation at the Trimdon Labour Club, in Sedgefield, in northeast England. Blair announced Thursday he will resign on June 27, ending a tumultuous decade as one of Britain's most successful leaders but who divided the nation over the Iraq war.(AFP/Pool/Phil Noble)

We look at Tony Blair, how he became his country's youngest prime minister and being reelected twice.

The son of a barrister and lecturer, Tony Blair was born on May 6, 1953 in Edinburgh. He studied law at Oxford, and went on to become a barrister himself.

After standing unsuccessfully for the Labour Party in a by-election, Blair went on to win the seat of Sedgefield in the 1983 General Election when he was 30. He then made a speedy rise through the ranks.

On May 2, 1997 Tony Blair became the youngest prime minister since Lord Liverpool in 1812. On a wave of goodwill, Labour was swept to power by a country desperate to see a change from 18 years of Conservative rule.

The government began to implement a far-reaching programme of constitutional change, putting the question of devolution to referendums in Scotland and Wales.

Tony Blair was re-elected with another landslide majority in the 2001 General Election. His second term was dominated by foreign policy issues, notably the "war on terror".

Blair's popularity has suffered since he sent British forces to join the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. A Labour Party rebellion in September forced him to say he would quit within a year.

Labour went on to win a third term for Blair in May 2005, albeit with a reduced majority.

Ten years on, the war in Iraq and political scandals have eroded Britons' faith in the Blair government. A recent BPIX poll for The Observer newspaper shows well over fifty per cent of voters believe the country is a more dangerous, less happy place to live after a decade of Blair power.

And poor results for Labour in last week's local government elections provided a bitter farewell for Blair.

Tony Blair

British Prime Minister

Born May 6, 1953 in Edinburgh

Studied law at Oxford, and became a barrister

Won the seat of Sedgefield in 1983 General Election

Elected British Prime Minister on May 2, 1997

Re-elected British Prime Minister on June 8, 2001

Won his third term as Prime Minister on May 6, 2005

Editor:Du Xiaodan