Tony Blair, prophet in his own land again

The rehabilitation of Tony Blair continues. For a long time after he stepped down as prime minister, his name was mud. The rebalancing of his reputation started in 2016, when he was the most articulate exponent of the pro-EU case. 

Since then, he and his institute have built their reputation as the source of smart policies for government and opposition alike, notably "first doses first" during the vaccine programme. 

Today, Blair is the only person who could bring Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, and Keir Starmer together in the same space, at his Future of Britain conference. From prophet cast out of his own land to the glue at the centre of politics, Blair is back in his rightful place at the heart of the British public conversation. 

Quiz question

Which UK Labour government had lower unemployment at the end than at the beginning?

Answer at the bottom of today’s email

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What else do you need to know today?

• Patrick Maguire has the fullest account of Keir Starmer's comments to the shadow cabinet about Labour's refusal to end the two-child limit on benefits; no shadow ministers dissented

• The Bibby Stockholm barge has docked in Portland, Dorset, ready to receive asylum-seekers; we have an exclusive report on what it is like

• Most people saved a lot of money during coronavirus lockdowns, according to new Resolution Foundation research, but the poorest fifth had their savings reduced, while only the richest fifth increased savings during the energy price crisis 

• Thanks to Adam Forrest and Archie Mitchell for making this newsletter possible

Rentoul's reading list

• Kate Lister in the i newspaper on Viagra – not so great for women (may require free registration)
• Sean O'Grady: is a modern-day Dickensian prison hulk the answer? (Altogether now...)
• Janan Ganesh of the FT on Napoleon (paywall)

• Andrew Gimson thinks the Conservatives might hold Uxbridge in the by-election on Thursday

• I have written about Keir Starmer being interviewed by Tony Blair, and whether it was like looking in a mirror (for Independent Premium, to be published here shortly)

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Inside the bubble

Our political commentator Andrew Grice on what to look out for tomorrow

All eyes will be on the Office for National Statistics when it issues the latest inflation figures at 7am. They could set the tone for the final session of Prime Minister's Questions before the summer break, at noon, which will see a (relatively) rare appearance by…the prime minister.

The Competition and Markets Authority and Mohsin Issa, co-owner of Asda, will be quizzed about fuel pricing by the Commons Business Committee at 4pm.
The Commons will kick off with questions on science at 11.30am, and will later approve tighter rules for all-party parliamentary groups after criticism of how some are funded by outside bodies. 
The Conservatives are due to announce whether Susan Hall or Moz Hussain will be their candidate at next May's election for London mayor. 

Quotation of the day

“What has gone on? A prime minister could allow a man of his stature to go as defence secretary at a critical time when there’s a war in Europe?” Barry Sheerman, Labour, pays extravagant tribute to Ben Wallace in the Commons

Quiz answer: The first Labour government, in office from January to November 1924

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