I do believe that Scottish National Party leader, Alex Salmond, has beautifully encapsulated the continuing mendacity, shamelessness and utter dishonour of our Great Leader:
"This situation (not one of the more than 4,000 British soldiers flown home from Iraq for medical treatment has received a visit from the Prime Minister in hospital on their return) is a damning indictment of a failing Prime Minister who is refusing to confront the horrific consequences of his own actions. While he is happy to go on triumphalistic media-friendly tours of Iraq, the fact that he has failed to meet those soldiers who have put their own lives on the line for his unjust cause, speaks volumes for his lack of honour and integrity."
Meanwhile - BBC Website, Monday, 26 December 2005
Blairs take Red Sea winter break
Tony Blair has begun a family holiday in the Egyptian resort of Sharm- el-Sheikh, Downing Street has said.
The Blairs will be paying all their own transport and accommodation costs during their vacation
.
"The prime minister is now on holiday for a short winter break," a Number 10 spokesman said.
This is the fourth Christmas running that the Blairs have holidayed in the Red Sea resort, which was hit by a series of suicide bomb attacks in July. More than 60 people died in those attacks, including 11 Britons.
Last year, Mr Blair faced some criticism for choosing to stay on holiday in Egypt instead of returning to deal with the Asian tsunami crisis.
But Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Mr Blair had been directly involved in decisions and was in regular contact, even while on holiday.
Downing Street imposed a news blackout on the Blairs' summer holiday in Barbados. The blackout was broken when Mr Blair visited a public war memorial service on the island.