Blair's Goodbye
Like every other political hack I've just been watching Tony Blair's final performance at the despatch box. Extraordinary scenes when all sides rose to give him a standing ovation, with David Cameron urging on any reluctant Tories.
As the minutes ticked by I thought the leader of the fourth biggest party was going to get squeezed out. But Ian Paisley made it at the end with a lengthy tribute. He contrasted his often forthright political exchanges with Mr Blair with the courtesy of their personal dealings. The First Minister noted that Mr Blair was taking on a "colossal task" as Middle East envoy and hoped what has happened in Northern Ireland will be repeated.
It would have been unthinkable for the DUP leader to have voiced such sentiments in the days when he used to tell President Clinton and any other international movers and shakers to "butt out". But the unthinkable is commonplace now.
TB welcomed the tribute, adding that he was waiting for the "but" from Ian Paisley, but it never came.
And so TB is exiting stage right - his Northern Ireland peace brokering background not just a chapter for his memoirs or a nice story to tell his grandchildren, but an essential part of his CV for his next job.
I'm 
