Blog
Matthew Taylor
Party conference season presses the well worn alarm button of personal inadequacy. As a peripheral member of Tony Blair's speech writing team, my material was like a Premiership team's third string keeper, its rare selection said little about its merits but much about the insignificance of the occasion. However, this was not entirely a matter of quality. While my speaking and working style tends to be discursive, Blair - like most modern political orators - preferred a declamatory style. A fascinating research study sent to me by my old friend Ian Christie makes me want to go back and fight harder for my way.