Tony Blair has 'arrogance bordering on vanity', ex-Prime Minister's biographer claims

'I do not believe he is an evil man. But he is an immensely stubborn one with an arrogance bordering on vanity,' writes Sir Anthony Seldon

Tony Blair served as UK Prime Minister from 1997 to 2007 (PA)

Tony Blair's stubbornness and Christian faith bound him to the decision to invade Iraq in 2003, the former Prime Minister's biographer has claimed.

Sir Anthony Seldon, who has written three books on Mr Blair, said the politician's strong faith helped him form a close bond with George W Bush.

Mr Blair had become convinced taking down Saddam Hussein "was a fight between good and evil", according to Sir Anthony.

The historian wrote in the Mirror: "I do not believe he is an evil man. But he is an immensely stubborn one with an arrogance bordering on vanity.

"By 2003, he’d been in power for six years and seen off three Tory leaders. He was the supreme master of the country with no serious challenger.

"He had come to believe in his own rightness, having taken a series of foreign policy decisions - in Kosovo in 1999 and Sierra Leone in 2002 - that appeared to vindicate his ­judgment.

"After 9/11, he took to the skies and for some months was the most powerful figure in the West."

The New Labour leader has once again been lambasted for his decisions in Downing Street during the 2000s following the criticisms of the Chilcot Inquiry.

Following the publication of the report, Mr Blair made a speech just over 45 minutes in length taking "full responsibility" for the war expressing his "sorrow, regret and apology" over "failures" in Iraq.

However, he declared he stands by his decision to invade and would do the same again.

Sir Anthony wrote: "He will go down in history as the man who rushed into a poor decision on the basis of flawed evidence and with insufficient military preparation, which resulted in the death of 179 British soldiers and countless Iraqis.

"His self-belief now prevents him from admitting his mistake and saying the one word that would restore trust and bring peace to him and spread reconciliation: 'Sorry'."