Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister whose name remains inextricably linked to sweeping changes in British politics, is once again making headlines in 2026. Nearly three decades after first stepping into 10 Downing Street, Blair continues to play a prominent role on the international stage, drawing both admiration and criticism for his ongoing influence and the legacy of his time in office.
On February 19, 2026, Blair, now 72, is set to attend the inaugural meeting of President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace in Washington, according to reporting from The Times. This new US-led international body, which costs countries a staggering $1 billion for permanent membership, was originally conceived as a vehicle to end the war in Gaza. Its remit, however, has since broadened, with Trump positioning the Board as a bold rival to the United Nations. The US president has named himself chairman for life—a move that has raised eyebrows and drawn both support and skepticism in equal measure.
Blair’s participation comes at a time when many of America’s traditional allies, including the United Kingdom under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, have chosen to boycott the Board of Peace. All four other members of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance—Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK—have declined to take part, as have a host of European nations such as France, Germany, Spain, Norway, Sweden, and Poland. Italy, notably, has opted for observer status, a decision that has sparked criticism from opposition parties at home, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni defending the move as a “good solution.”
The Board of Peace itself is an eclectic mix, with 25 countries having signed up. Among its most prominent supporters are Argentina’s Javier Milei, Hungary’s Viktor Orban, and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Other member states include Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia, and Pakistan, with leaders from these nations expressing gratitude to the US for mediating in their respective regional conflicts. Notably, no countries from sub-Saharan Africa were invited to join, a fact that has not gone unnoticed by observers.
At the Washington summit, Trump is expected to announce $5 billion in funding earmarked for the reconstruction of Gaza, a gesture that underscores the Board’s stated commitment to peacemaking—even as the organization’s legitimacy is questioned by many in the international community. Eric Alter, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, told The Times that European countries’ skepticism and boycott “undermined the legitimacy” of the Board. Yet, he conceded, “Trump is the only one to be able to gather these 20 to 30 countries right now,” suggesting that the Europeans could be taking a risk by sitting out an initiative that “could help at least the Gaza situation.”
Blair’s role within the Board is not merely symbolic. He sits on the executive board alongside figures such as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Steve Witkoff, the president’s special envoy. The Gaza Executive Board, which will oversee reconstruction efforts, includes Blair, Witkoff, and Kushner, as well as representatives from Israel, Qatar, Turkey, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates. Israel will be represented by Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa’ar at the summit. The US also extended invitations to Russia and Ukraine, though neither has accepted.
This latest chapter in Blair’s career comes as his own legacy at home is being re-examined. Channel 4’s new three-part series, as reviewed by CapX, offers a comprehensive look at Blair’s journey from his early days at Fettes College to the tumultuous years of the Iraq War. The series, which features interviews with Blair’s wife Cherie and their children, paints a largely sympathetic portrait, albeit with occasional critical interjections from the likes of Peter Mandelson.
The program does not shy away from controversy. It details Blair’s almost preternatural ambition—how, during a holiday in Paris in 1994, he and Cherie anticipated the death of then-Labour leader John Smith and began planning his path to leadership. Within three years, Blair was Prime Minister, ushering in an era defined by bold constitutional reforms. According to CapX, Blair’s government established devolved assemblies in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales, fundamentally reshaping the United Kingdom’s political landscape and, some argue, stoking the very disunity that now characterizes British politics.
Blair’s 1998 Human Rights Act, which incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into domestic law, is another legacy that continues to provoke debate. Critics contend that it outsourced critical decisions on migration to judges in Strasbourg, while the establishment of the Supreme Court and an array of quasi-autonomous non-governmental organizations (quangos) formalized a shift of power away from elected officials. “From the struggle to police our borders to the dire state of our universities, much of our current malaise can be traced back to Blair’s governments,” CapX argues.
The former Prime Minister’s record on education is also scrutinized. Elected on the promise of “education, education, education,” Blair set a target of getting 50% of school leavers into university—a goal that has since been surpassed. Yet, critics claim this has left a generation with degrees of questionable value and little vocational training. Meanwhile, the housing crisis is blamed in part on Blair’s watch, with house prices soaring and little effort made to increase supply.
Despite nearly two decades of Conservative rule since Blair’s departure, the article notes that the so-called “Blairite constitutional settlement” has largely endured. Quangos remain influential, and the UK continues to be constrained by European legal rulings on migration. The proliferation of “fringe beliefs about race and gender,” as predicted by philosopher Roger Scruton in 1997, is also attributed to the Blair era, with critics arguing that the Conservative Party has failed to offer a robust alternative.
Yet, for all the criticism, there is a grudging respect for Blair’s effectiveness. “By moulding the state to his political agenda, he was able to deliver lasting change,” notes CapX. Today, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is seen as a torchbearer of Blairism, even as he faces record levels of unpopularity. A contest is now underway on the British right to provide a new vision for Britain, with figures like Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage vying to present a credible alternative.
Meanwhile, Blair’s international engagements continue apace. He was recently appointed Senior Advisor to the Antenna Group, a leading media and information conglomerate, to support preparations for the Europe–Gulf Forum scheduled for May 2026 in Greece. Organized in partnership with the Atlantic Council, this forum aims to foster cooperation between Europe and the Gulf, bringing together political, business, and institutional leaders. Blair hailed the initiative as “particularly important and timely,” adding, “At a time of increasing global polarization, Antenna is leading efforts to connect societies and reduce rivalries. The Forum represents a meaningful initiative for the future.”
As Blair steps onto the world stage once more—whether in Washington, Athens, or on British television screens—his influence remains as divisive as ever. For supporters, he is a visionary leader whose reforms left an indelible mark; for detractors, he is the architect of many of the challenges Britain faces today. But one thing is clear: Tony Blair is not done shaping the conversation, at home or abroad.