BarTalk

What would you buy Tony Blair for a leaving present?

Fiona Horsby

Thomas Rigby's, Liverpool

Probably 200 Benson & Hedges and an ashtray! We're not looking forward to 1 July even though we have a big courtyard and have installed lots of umbrellas to look after the smokers. A lot of our customers like to watch cricket or horse-racing on TV, and enjoying a cigarette is part and parcel of a visit to the pub. I think the smoking ban will change the mood of a lot of pubs and even change the trade forever, so it would be a suitable gift for him to reflect on what his government has done.

Paul Bowes

Black Bull, Wylam, Northumberland

A one way ticket to Iraq? Or, more suitable perhaps, four miles of red tape because that is what he has lumbered the pub trade with since he came to power. There have been so many new rules and regulations stuck on us it is simply frightening. The only good thing has been extended hours and that was 10 years too late! But for this one positive move there have been 100 negative things for us to get to grips with.

Allan Sherratt

Church House Inn, Bollington, Cheshire

I can think of lots of suitable leaving presents, including a charisma transplant and an Asbo because in political terms he has been a bit of a lunatic, hasn't he? My favourite would be to present him with a name plate for his new house, which might well have the inscription "Dunlying!" The list is really endless because he is leaving with quite a lot of baggage to transport around with him.

David Heyes

Garsdale Inn, Brandlesholme, Bury

I would present him with some saplings or tree seeds to help replace all the wood needed to produce the paperwork for his government's different reforms. The volume of extra paperwork and form-filling he has put on us over the years is truly amazing. If you look back and think about all the paper needed for the new laws and regulations that have been brought in it would run to whole forests!