'Anomaly' or 'outrage'?
Tony Blair simply won't say it. Today the Foreign Affairs committee called on him to "make loud and public" his objections to the existence of Guantanamo Bay. But at his news conference he refused to go further than calling it an "anomaly" which should come to an end.
When put to him that he should use his access to the American president and Congress he grew visibly frustrated and took issue with the assumption that he was taking "no personal action" to bring about the prison camp's closure. It's another of those issues on which those behind the scenes claim Tony Blair speaks strongly in private but softly in public.
PS. If you were watching the live coverage (which you can see a recording of here), you might have wondered why there were cheers for the man who brought the prime minister a cup of tea. Despite his bow, he's no butler or manservant. He is is Alastair Campbell's one-time deputy, Godric Smith, who is finally taking his bow from the Downing Street press team. A civil servant of integrity - marred only by by being an Arsenal fan - he will be sorely missed.
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