Has today's inquisition of Tony Blair at the Iraq Inquiry born any special resonance for the people he once served as their local MP?

The answer would seem to be no.

The North East, sadly, has its share of families and friends still mourning loved ones killed in Iraq. But that is not a feature special to our region.

Today Blair answered questions asked of him as the country's former Prime Minister, and the man who led us into war; roles far-removed from his constituency.

Like the rest of the country the region today saw Blair cautiously ease into the inquiry.

His early nerves gave way to a more confident and assured account of how he saw the build up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, why he believed he was leading the country in the right direction.

The question remains, was he?

There was rarely a time when he appeared to be "on the rocks" today.

Bold gesticulation with spectacles told of a relief he was finally able to have his say. To many his words were never going to be acceptable.

The North East, like the rest of the country, may be left to feel dissatisfied by the lack of real answers the Inquiry had hoped to deliver.

Blair, we can only assume, will return to his comfortable retirement, far from the Sedgefield constituency he once served.