Tony Blair

Anthony Blair was born and grew up in Scotland. He attended prestigious schools, but was an unimpressive student. At Oxford, Blair grew interested in religion and liberalism, and upon graduating, he became involved in Labour Party politics. Blair was elected Labour Party leader in 1994, and in 1997, at age 43, he became the youngest Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since Lord Liverpool in 1812. Some accomplishments of Blair’s government included the introduction of the National Minimum Wage Act and the establishment of the Scottish Parliament. Blair served until June 2007, becoming the Labour Party’s longest-serving minister. Blair is sometimes criticized for involving the U.K. in the U.S.-led invasions of Afghanistan an Iraq.