Cherie Blair has revealed the advice Hillary Clinton gave to her before her husband’s landslide victory at the 1997 general election.

Speaking to Sky’s Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge, Tony Blair‘s wife said Mrs Clinton became her mentor when the Labour politician became leader of the opposition in 1994 and is “still a dear friend”.

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Hillary Clinton and Cherie Blair in 2010. Pic: Reuters

U.S. President Bill Clinton (L) and first lady Hillary Clinton pose with British Prime Minister Tony Blair (R) and his wife Cherie after arriving at Council House for the opening dinner at the G-8 Summit May 15. GMH/CLH/
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Bill Clinton, Cherie Blair, Hillary Clinton and Tony Blair at the G8 in 1998. Pic: Reuters

When asked what advice she would give to Sir Keir Starmer‘s wife Lady Victoria if he becomes prime minister in the upcoming general election, Mrs Blair said she would repeat the 2016 US presidential candidate’s advice.

“I’m sure she’s [Lady Victoria] going to get plenty of advice, but I will always tell her what Hillary Clinton said to me, which is, ‘You’re always going to face criticism, some people will dislike you – not for anything you do – but because of what you represent. Therefore, the most important thing is to be true to yourself and do the things that you feel comfortable about doing,'” she said.

Cherie Blair speaking to Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge
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Cherie Blair speaking to Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge

Mrs Blair spoke to Sky News ahead of International Women’s Day.

The 69-year-old’s foundation and software company Intuit has published a report on women in business and the technology they use.

The research found that 44% of more than 1,100 female business owners have already started to use artificial intelligence (AI) for their companies – but Mrs Blair said: “They all said to us, we don’t feel we know how best to use it. We would welcome opportunities to learn how better to use it in our business.”

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Cherie Blair (L) and Hillary Clinton talk at a dinner attended by leaders wives at the Left Bank restaurant, Birmingham May 15. [Leaders of the Group of Eight are attending a working dinner tonight hosted by British Prime minister Blair at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.]
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Cherie Blair and Hillary Clinton at a G8 dinner in 1998. Pic: Reuters

She added: “76% said they had encountered gender-based violence… in using AI and using technology. And 44% of them said it has had an impact on their business and 9% said it had actually significantly impacted on their business.”

Mrs Blair went on to give examples of the issues women in business were facing, talking about a woman in Nigeria with an online clothing firm.

She added: “She finds she’s being stalked online. Then she finds obscene and threatening messages sent to her on her business website.

“Or a woman in Uganda having a poultry business being told over WhatsApp, ‘what are you as a woman having any business at all in agriculture?'”

Mrs Blair said the solution to these issues is change within technology companies and greater training for women in how to protect themselves online.

You can watch the full interview with Cherie Blair at 7pm on Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge on Sky News.