AS Tony Blair's premiership draws to a close his legacy will increasingly focus on those issues deemed a failure. Iraq will be there as will the Honours List.

However, when he came to power in 1997 his fanfare was modernisation in every aspect of government. Modernising government is tricky because change is not something people readily accept, let alone adapt to.

His successes include education and foreign policy, but with every success comes a price.

As the world juggles with global poverty and climate change, Mr Blair has been formidable in raising the stakes, challenging the richest nations to commit to increasing aid, but also in embracing inclusion, both socially and economically, domestically as well as on the world stage.

In promoting social inclusion and enhancing opportunities for children and families, initiatives such as Sure Start have been a beacon for positive parenting.

Regrettably, while many of us have seen the benefit of such developments, some choose not to engage with government at all and decide to "opt out", alienating themselves and abdicating responsibilities.

Many who criticise Mr Blair have credible argument, but some do so because it is easy to criticise and to deflect their own limitations and frustrations. - Bernie Walsh, Coxhoe, Durham.