Blair's praise for Cardiff's 'renaissance'

Apr 12 2007 Phillip Nifield, South Wales Echo

Prime Minister Tony Blair has spoken glowingly of Cardiff's transformation, describing it as 'one of the foremost cities of Europe'.

Mr Blair, speaking at the inaugural Callaghan Lecture in City Hall yesterday, said: 'In the old days, the rapid growth of Cardiff was based on its development as a major port for the transport of coal. With the fall of the industry, unemployment used to blight Cardiff. Now it has fallen 54 per cent since 1997.

'There has been major redevelopment, which has led to Cardiff being one of the fastest growing cities in the UK. It is certainly one of few with an expanding population. Cardiff is now, on any basis, one of the foremost cities of Europe.

'The renaissance has been spectacular. Here in Cardiff, the waterways have come back into use. We have world-class arts venues and there is the massive redevelopment of the city centre, the largest-ever private investment in Wales, now under way.'

The Prime Minister was asked to give the inaugural Callaghan Lecture in honour of the former Prime Minister, who was an MP in Cardiff for 42 years.

Mr Blair, whose speech was watched by two of Lord Callaghan's children, Margaret and Michael, praised the late Premier as a 'commonsense politician who was a deeply humane man'.

He said Lord Callaghan grasped the reality of life because 'he had lived it from humble beginnings to great office'.

In a question-and-answer session with members of Cardiff Chamber of Commerce, the Prime Minister was forced to defend his Chancellor over allegations that Gordon Brown had destroyed the pensions system and Mr Blair also fended off criticism over the shake-up in the legal aid budget.