Tony Blair in Ireland

[tetsujin1979]

A visiting former British Prime Minister would have zero security normally?

ok, not zero security, but not on the same level that had to be used last week after protest groups said they were going to enact a citizen's arrest

[dahamsta]

His line in response to the London cancellation was classic Blair: I'm cancelling because the protests would be an inconvenience to the public. It's like Alistair is still there on his shoulder, prompting him.

I was actually looking at his car on Sky News last night, definitely one of the bulletproof BMW 7s, in fact given the thickness of the doors I'd guess it was a custom job. I'd be very surprised if ex-PMs weren't given an equivalent of ex-US President security these days. Maybe not as loony as the yanks, but definitely special branch cover for a good few years afterward.

[Spudulika]

I think he's been given the full ex-Pres protection, they pre-check everything, do advance searches etc.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Ex Brit PM's, especially Blair, get a very high level of protection once they leave office.

Though the likes of say, Major and Brown, will probably prove less divisive over the passage of time compared to ACB. So don't know if their security is less or just more low-key.