Tony Blair general election defeats) the Labour Party had to demonstrate that it had made a decisive break from its left-wing past, in order to win an election again. In May 1997, the Labour Party won a landslide general election victory, the largest in its history. Blair, at 43 years of age, became the youngest Prime Minister since 1812. In September 1997, Blair attained early personal popularity, receiving a 93% public approval rating, after his public response to the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. The Labour Party went on to win two more general elections under his leadership: in 2001, in
Robert Blair (minister) Robert Blair (minister) The Rev. Dr. Robert Blair DD VD (3 May 1837 – 4 November 1907) was a Scottish minister and a Gaelic scholar. Blair was born in Bullwood, Dunoon, Scotland, the son of Duncan Blair and Margaret Campbell. He was educated at Bowmore School, Islay, then Glasgow University where he gained an M.A. in 1863. He was licensed by the Presbytery of Kintyre on 29 November 1865 when he was assistant at Saddell. He was ordained to Tarbert, Loch Fyne on 19 September 1867. On 6 May 1869 he moved to St Columba's Church, Glasgow, a Gaelic Church.