Former British PM Tony Blair addressed more than 2,000 people, mainly businessmen and women from all over Spain, at the Palacio de Congresos in Barcelona last Monday. There was no title for the 90-minute conference for which Mr Blair is believed to have charged organisers around a quarter of a million euros. Among those attending were the Infanta Cristina and Madrid president, Esperanza Aguirre.

In his speech, Mr Blair praised Spain, its position within Europe, and social and economic advances achieved over the last decade. He also spoke about president Zapatero's Alliance of Civilisations project, saying that he was broadly in favour of the scheme, but defended the decision to invade Iraq. Using his experience in Ulster to comment on the Basque troubles, Mr Blair said that "to try for peace requires great bravery," but warned that talks can only be held "in the absence of violence."