A biography of Tony Blair, the leader of the Labour party, which is also an account of the modernization of his party. Tony Blair attended his first branch meeting of the Hackney South Labour Party as recently as 1980; two years later he was the surprise choice to fight the safe Tory seat of Beaconsfield in a by-election. He lost, but entered Parliament in the 1983 election. Since then his rise has been one of the most dramatic stories in contemporary politics. It is argued that he is a natural successor to the acknowledged rejuvenators of Labour - Neil Kinnock and John Smith This study of the man and his politics charts the map of Blair's political journey - its starting point, direction and likely destination. Other work by the author includes "The Rich Get Richer" and "Me and Mine".