Tony's Cronies

[1] These included those granted life peerages and public positions based on their friendship with Blair rather than their individual merits.

[1] These people were compared to medieval courtiers, viewed to have been appointed to positions of power because of their historical personal background with Blair.

[8] It also made the provision for "people's peers" to be created, independent of political influence, which was viewed in the media as a way to balance against "Tony's Cronies".

[12] These regular appointments of new peers on apparent favouritism was criticised by the Scottish National Party's Chief Whip, Pete Wishart, as a "typical Establishment fix".

[14] In 2002, there were also accusations of cronyism from the Conservatives and the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, when Labour gave Lord Hollick, a friend of Blair, the chairmanship of the Southbank Centre arts complex as a personal gift.

[17] In 2010, when the Conservatives formed a new government in coalition with the Liberal Democrats following the 2010 general election, the new prime minister David Cameron faced similar accusations to Blair when he was perceived as rewarding with life peerages those who had assisted him.