"A genuine political giant," former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair dubs Lee Kuan Yew, who passed away earlier this morning after over a month being warded at Singapore General Hospital.
Blair recalled his interaction with Lee, whom he met in Singapore after he became the leader of the UK's Labour Party, seeking his advice — which he gave with acuity and frankness. "Whether in the economy, social cohesion or law and order, he applied methods of rigorous analysis and detailed implementation," he remarked. "He will be profoundly missed and greatly mourned not only by the people of Singapore but by his many friends the world over."
Current British Prime Minister David Cameron also expressed his grief over hearing the death of Singapore's first Prime Minister, calling him a constant friend to Britain; if sometimes a critical one as well.
“Lady Thatcher once said that there was no Prime Minister she admired more than Mr Lee for ‘the strength of his convictions, the clarity of his views, the directness of his speech and his vision of the way ahead'," Cameron says of Lee. "His place in history is assured, as a leader and as one of the modern world's foremost statesmen.”
Photo: Shaun Curry / AFP; Johnny Eggitt / AFP
"A genuine political giant," former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair dubs Lee Kuan Yew, who passed away earlier this morning after over a month being warded at Singapore General Hospital.
Blair recalled his interaction with Lee, whom he met in Singapore after he became the leader of the UK's Labour Party, seeking his advice — which he gave with acuity and frankness. "Whether in the economy, social cohesion or law and order, he applied methods of rigorous analysis and detailed implementation," he remarked. "He will be profoundly missed and greatly mourned not only by the people of Singapore but by his many friends the world over."
Current British Prime Minister David Cameron also expressed his grief over hearing the death of Singapore's first Prime Minister, calling him a constant friend to Britain; if sometimes a critical one as well.
“Lady Thatcher once said that there was no Prime Minister she admired more than Mr Lee for ‘the strength of his convictions, the clarity of his views, the directness of his speech and his vision of the way ahead'," Cameron says of Lee. "His place in history is assured, as a leader and as one of the modern world's foremost statesmen.”
Photo: Shaun Curry / AFP; Johnny Eggitt / AFP