Yes your last paragraph puts it well-though I disagree with your last sentence.

It seems to me that those abilities cannot easily be learned. They are inherant in character-which is influenced by background-in turn influenced by education.Confidence too is a huge factor I think.

No doubt Fettes College, and dare one say, Eton,are advantages in this regard by comparison with Kirkcaldy High School?

I’m not sure Blair’s way can work either in the Middle East. There was a strange mix of unionism and catholicism that was part of his baggage in Northern Ireland, and his team was well-picked too.

In my view the skill lies in being able to convey your own vision as though it’s (almost) the same as the person’s you are persuading. It requires finesse and charm, an ability to think on your feet and an ability to listen. That in turn requires a command of the brief. Working backwards, if Brown knows his brief, he needs to practise some simple listening techniques and have the confidence to drop his guard. It’s not that difficult.

Your last paragraph is interesting.

I have always disliked “triangulation”-Blair’s approach to politics by aiming at a point between opposing principles in order to broaden voter appeal.

I felt that -ultimately-it was exposed as the politics of no particular principle.

But I have to concede that Blair’s approach in Northern Ireland was the right one.To see Paisley & McGuiness , the very antithesis of triangulation, sitting down together in harmony, is a revelation.

I don’t think Brown could have achieved this-a much better sense of humour than he posesses must have been a key factor!

It will be interesting to see whether Blair can repeat the process with the Palestinians & Israelis.

I learnt this leadership/confidence stuff at school (not Eton, but independent) and it’s obvious that Cameron and Blair did too. Not taught as a subject, but the “knowledge” is definitely imbued.

I find it so frustrating that what comes as second nature to “toff-educated” people (like me) is actually eminently learn-able in later life by people who have a modicum of common sense.

For some reason Brown eschews it, thinks of it as slippery spin. It isn’t, it’s respectable, mature negotiation skills at work.

Would Brown have brought the Northern Ireland peace process forward in the way that Blair did? I don’t think so. (I don’t think Major would have been able to either, for the same reasons).