ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Tony Blair's 'Radical Centralism' Essay Is a Pitch for Larry Ellison's AI Agenda

opinion-review · 2026-05-29

On May 27, 2026, Tony Blair published a 5,600-word essay advocating for deregulation, welfare cuts, and NHS privatization, while encouraging a departure from Net Zero policies. The essay aligns with the agenda of Larry Ellison, the largest donor to the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI), who has contributed $130 million from 2021 to 2023 and pledged an additional $218 million. Blair's controversial ten-point plan emphasizes digital ID for AI governance, and his recommendations include supporting the US-Israeli conflict with Iran and furthering AI initiatives in the UK, despite criticisms of TBI's internal culture.

Key facts

  • Tony Blair published a 5,600-word essay on May 27, 2026.
  • Blair advocates for deregulation, welfare cuts, NHS privatisation, and abandoning Net Zero.
  • Larry Ellison is TBI's largest donor, giving $130M (2021-2023) and pledging $218M more.
  • TBI's turnover was $145.3 million in 2023, far exceeding UK think tanks.
  • Former TBI staff describe a toxic culture of AI boosterism and Oracle lobbying.
  • Blair recommends cozying up to Trump, supporting the US-Israeli war on Iran, and cheap energy.
  • UK AI Growth Zones bypass environmental assessments and community consultation.
  • Andover, New Jersey passed a complete ban on data centres.
  • BBC Question Time AI panel featured only pro-industry voices, including a TBI representative.
  • Blair's ten-point plan includes digital ID as vital for AI governance.

Entities

Artists

  • Tony Blair
  • Larry Ellison
  • Keir Starmer
  • Andy Burnham
  • Wes Streeting
  • Angela Rayner
  • Nick Robinson
  • Richard Murphy
  • Bill Clinton
  • Peter Kyle
  • JD Vance
  • Darren Jones
  • Karen Hao
  • Richard Werner
  • Tucker Carlson
  • Samuel Rubinstein
  • Bob Moran
  • Carole Cadwalladr
  • Nick Ferrari
  • Ben Dziobek
  • Lewis Goodall
  • Saul Staniforth
  • Furkan Gözükara

Institutions

  • Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI)
  • Oracle
  • Labour Party
  • UnHerd
  • BBC
  • Question Time
  • Policy Exchange
  • Institute of Public Policy Research
  • McKinsey
  • Meta
  • New Statesman
  • NHS
  • World Governments Summit
  • Home Affairs Select Committee
  • LBC
  • The News Agents
  • BlackRock
  • EU
  • AI Act

Locations

  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • Iraq
  • Iran
  • Yugoslavia
  • Israel
  • Andover
  • New Jersey
  • Europe
  • Britain
  • America

Sources