Blair is on the record as being an admirer of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew. The visionary authoritarian built Singapore into a “successful” City state on the back of a tough social agenda. When Blair starts talking about “so called civil liberties” you have to start worrying. Like Lee, Blair believes he is doing the right thing and that “it works”.

Birching for littering, on the spot fines for anti-socially chewing gum, turning a blind eye to human rights niceties and harsh anti-terrorist laws. A real respect agenda…