Tony Blair's historical reputation as prime minister (1997-2007) is being shaped decisively by the recent Chilcot report on Iraq. However, the leader of new labour still clings to his legacy as a peace maker in Northern Ireland.

Austen Morgan's new book - written after the collapse of the John Downey Old Bailey trial in February 2014 - asks: how did Tony Blair implement the Belfast agreement after 1998? The answer (avoided by Chilcot as regards the Iraq war) is: the prime minister, and his chief of staff, Jonathan Powell, acted unlawfully in agreeing privately with Gerry Adams and Martin...