Axegrinder has until now chosen to keep his oar out of the row over GQ – the trendy men's monthly – naming former PM Tony Blair philanthropist of the year at its Men of the Year awards this week.

And so, it seems, have most of GQ's many columnists – including Blair's former spin doctor, Alastair Campbell, the magazine's chief interrogator.

But the outspoken Rod Liddle – who acts as an agony uncle reminiscent of Dorian Gray's mentor, Lord Henry Wotton, in the monthly – has now given his view.