Years away from today, when the dust has settled and the final memoirs have all been published, Blair's cri de coeur will still be debated. The one-time Prime Minister has leaked various details from his book in a sledgehammer plea for sympathy. Hindsight is used as justification.
Yet, the line of revelations does not move a vote for pity. He will do penance for the Iraqi war (but not the others). He was so pressured by the job that he began to rely upon alcohol (but not to such an extent that he ever became alcoholic). He was unnerved and worried by Gordon Brown's suitability, so much so that he could only tell us in great detail after the fiasco.
All Blair's memoirs confirm is his lack of fitness for the role of leading this country. Any doubts on his lack of statesmanship and inability to rise above his own needs are confirmed by the publication on the day that the new leadership ballots are issued. Their votes must be overshadowed by his needs.
Perhaps he feels cheated: but will the words of the Great Ham divide the Labour party. Somehow, one suspects that Blair will have done himself a disservice, and ruined his credibility, putting petulant preening before party.
Who else but Blair could muster a sympathy vote for Brown?