ANTHONY Charles Lynton Blair, showing yet again his great talent for vacating a position as the excrement is terminally clogging up the air conditioning, announced this week that he is to step down as Middle East peace envoy.

The former prime minister and full-time war criminal will quit the role, which he took up after leaving Downing Street in 2007, next month, we were informed.

This immediately raised two fundamental questions — what was the point in appointing him in the first place and will anyone notice the difference?
It also means he’s going to have even more time on his hands to cosy up to despots and dictators.

A source close to Blair insisted he remained “fully committed” to helping progress on a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.
Hmmm, and we all know how well that’s going.

But he believes he can “best support these efforts through working with the key regional players, the US, the EU and others, without any formal role.”

Blair apparently felt that his job of representing the quartet of international powers — the US, Russia, the UN and the EU — was “limited” to supporting the Palestinian people on economic development and strengthening institutions.

Although “much has been achieved,” it was “despite the political constraints.”

Well, that and his slavish subservience to all things Israeli.

In fact, it could be argued that Blair has done more to destabilise the Middle East, and shown less regard for the Palestinian people, than anyone since Arthur Balfour with his infamous declaration of 1917.

The source added that Blair was convinced an “entirely new approach” was needed to make money, er, I mean, progress.

“He will concentrate on strengthening relations between Israel and the wider Arab world, drawing on his considerable experience and the relationships he has built in the region to advance this work,” the source said.

Perhaps these include his excellent relationship with Saudi Arabia, after he personally intervened to derail the multibillion-pound Al Yamamah bribery investigation.

Shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn, proving once more just how far the apple can fall from the tree, said: “Tony Blair took on this challenging role because of his commitment to help improve the lives of the Palestinian people through economic development and stronger institutions.”

I’m sure they’re already having a whip-round in Gaza for a suitable leaving present.