Tony Joins The Club

I spoke to a very senior official of the Club of Madrid - the association of former heads of state, who told me that Tony Blair has been informally invited to join them and that formal membership was forthcoming.

They felt very excited to have him and his experience on board and their members would be providing him with contacts and access to networks to aid his Middle East mission.

This does strengthen him considerably, although it remains to be seen how much actual support he is offered, but it is highly significant that he was offered membership so quickly.