Popping of corks as PM leaves

IT was one of the longest, slowest goodbyes in British political history.

For anti-Iraq war protesters, it couldn’t come too soon.

“I’m hoping that Gordon Brown will be stronger and not let Bush dictate,” said Donna Mahoney, holding up a picture of her dead husband, Peter, a soldier who killed himself in 2004 after a tour of duty in Iraq.

In some respects, Tony Blair’s farewell mirrored the scene when he first moved into his offices in May 1997. Then, he posed in front of Number 10 with wife, Cherie, and his young children Euan, Nicky and Kathryn, acknowledging the ecstatic applause of supporters hoping he would usher in a new era in the country’s political life.

Yesterday, Mr Blair and his family again posed for the cameras, kissing and hugging.

This time, though, the only members of the public to witness the scene were the handful of anti-Iraq war protesters, some of whom drank champagne to mark Mr Blair’s departure from No 10 after 10 years.