Over 900 restaurants nationwide. Find your nearest now
Her verdict: the Prime Minister’s surprisingly chaotic script indicates an aggressive, unstable man who is feeling under enormous pressure.
Mrs Bache, who regularly carries out employee assessments for firms such as Barings, said: “I analysed his writing 18 months ago and there are marked differences. Then, his writing was much more fluid indicating that he felt more easy-come-easy-go. The ticks, such as the upward stroke on the ‘t’ in taxes, were not so angular.
“He is a lot more assertive and aggressive than in recent years because there are lots of very angular strokes. There is a lack of curves and a lot of irritability which he is struggling to keep under control.
“There is also a lot of retracing of the strokes, which I have never seen him do before. He is feeling very much under pressure so an obsessive-compulsive nature is coming out. The pressure he is putting on the pen is also quite heavy, which is an indication of stress and tension.” Mr Blair may have been feeling some antipathy towards those at the meeting, including the Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates and the rock star Bono, who are both considerably richer than him, she added.
Ms Bache said that the Prime Minister’s writing changed depending on whom he was writing to. “There are some people who really get his goat. If he doesn’t like someone he becomes very aggressive with big ticks like the one on the end of the ‘t’ in taxes.”
The Prime Minister has always used upward loops in his writing which indicate someone who is particularly concerned with appearances, according to Ms Bache.
She said: “There are a lot of phallic symbols — loops such as the ‘b’ and the ‘l’ in debt cancellation — which he’s always had in his handwriting.” She added: “You often get these loops with artistic and creative people, but Tony Blair is not in this category. With him it’s a case that he is too easily swayed by appearance.”
Mr Blair’s handwriting and doodles also demonstrated an overwhelming desire to stand his ground in the face of criticism, even when he knows he is wrong. “He is someone who doesn’t like to lose face . . . He is incredibly stubborn; you can see this from the way the ‘t’ in ‘taxes’ is below the baseline. Even when he knows he is wrong he won’t back down.”
The boxes and triangles on the page are also significant, she said. “He is thinking, ‘Nobody will distract me from this. I will have the final word and I won’t be distracted’.
“The triangle and the cross are dark symbols, perhaps symbolic of a death wish. In a normal script which is not a doodle they are often written by people who are seriously ill.” Mr Blair has had heart problems, but Ms Bache thinks this aspect may be more symbolic of the risk to his political career.
The changes in Mr Blair’s handwriting show that “he is slightly out of control, very frustrated and stressed. This is obvious in the huge amount of retracing and the huge disparity in the size of the letters.”
Ms Bache concludes: “There is more than a hint of megalomania about him which I haven’t seen before.”
The moment your toes touch the sand and your gaze meets water, you know you’re in the Bahamas.
Risk, resilience and embracing new technology
Industry sectors news at a glance. Interactive heatmap, video and podcast
The inside track on current trends in the charity, not for profit and social enterprise sectors
Everything the Business Traveller needs to know to make a better trip
Shortcuts to help you find sections and articles
05/2005
£13,500
08/2008
£109,950
2005 / 55
£59,500
Great car insurance deals online
Circa £60,000
The Army Benevolent Fund
London
£28k+ Basic + Commission
Drummond Selection
London
12-15 days a year, c £12K
Springboard
London
£Competitive
American Airlines
Heathrow, London
Great Investment, River Views
One and Two Bed Apartments
Wandsworth Town
Times Online Property Search will help you Find It
like nothing on Earth!
.
Must end 28 Feb 2009!
Save up to 25%
Amazing Far East Offers
Visit Malaysia from £755pp
Great travel insurance deals online
.
Contact our advertising team for advertising and sponsorship in Times Online, The Times and The Sunday Times, or place your advertisement.
Times Online Services: Dating | Jobs | Property Search | Used Cars | Holidays | Births, Marriages, Deaths | Subscriptions
News International associated websites: Globrix Property Search | Property Finder | Milkround
Copyright 2008 Times Newspapers Ltd.
This service is provided on Times Newspapers' standard Terms and Conditions. Please read our Privacy Policy.To inquire about a licence to reproduce material from Times Online, The Times or The Sunday Times, click here.This website is published by a member of the News International Group. News International Limited, 1 Virginia St, London E98 1XY, is the holding company for the News International group and is registered in England No 81701. VAT number GB 243 8054 69.