Tony Blair's Disappearing Act

Cleaning up British politics--and getting Labour finances, still in a parlous condition, back on track--will be a problem for the next Prime Minister. Blair's challenge is to seize back control over the manner and timing of his departure. It won't be easy. The investigation trundles on, although detectives appear to have shifted their focus from the original accusations of corruption toward the possibility that some of those questioned may have deceived investigators. (World-weary Washingtonians may now recite that old mantra: "It's never the crime. It's the cover-up.") Blair is determined not to stand down before the inquiry reaches a conclusion, believing this would be interpreted as an admission of guilt. But the longer the case goes on, the longer it encourages those who just can't stand Blair, and perhaps never could. Whether that does Britain much good is another matter. "This country's reputation for political leadership will suffer if we drag his reputation through the dirt," says the Downing Street aide. That may be true, but if anyone in London cares, they're keeping mighty quiet.