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Cherie Blair

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Cherie Blair
CBEKC
Blair in 2011
Born
Cherie Booth

(1954-09-23)23 September 1954(age 70)
Bury, Lancashire,England
Alma mater
OccupationBarrister
Known forSpouse of the prime minister of the United Kingdom(1997–2007)
Political partyLabour
Spouse
​
(m.1980)​
Children4, includingEuan
ParentTony Booth(father)
RelativesLauren Booth(paternal half‑sister)
Websitecherieblair.org
Signature

Cherie, Lady BlairCBE,KC(néeBooth;born 23 September 1954), also known professionally asCherie Booth,is an Englishbarristerand writer. She is the spouse of formerPrime Minister of the United KingdomTony Blair.

Early life and education

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Booth was born on 23 September 1954 atFairfield General Hospital,Bury, Lancashire,England,[1]and brought up in Ferndale Road,Waterloo,Merseyside, just north ofLiverpool.Although her birth was registered as 'Cherie', owing to her maternal grandmother's influence, she was christened 'Theresa Cara' in deference to the requirement that she be given a saint's name.[2]Her father, British actorTony Booth,left her mother, actress Gale Howard (née Joyce Smith; 14 February 1933 – 5 June 2016), when Cherie was 8 years old. Cherie and her younger sister Lyndsey were then brought up by Gale and their paternal grandmother Vera Booth, a devoutRoman Catholicof Irish descent. The sisters attended Catholic schools inCrosby,Merseyside. Cherie Booth attendedSeafield Convent Grammar,which is now part ofSacred Heart Catholic College,where she achieved four As in herA Levels.

She read law at theLondon School of Economicsand graduated withFirst-Class Honours.Later she was enrolled at theCollege of Lawand passed herBar Vocational Course.[3]She came at the top of her year in the bar exams,[4]while teaching law at thePolytechnic of Central London(University of Westminster).[citation needed]She was the Labour candidate for the Conservativesafe seatofNorth Thanetin Kent in the1983 general election,losing toRoger Gale.[5]

[edit]

A member ofLincoln's Inn,she became abarristerin 1976 andQueen's Counselin 1995. Until 1988, her head of chambers wasGeorge Carman.In 1999, she was appointed arecorder(a permanent part-time judge) in theCounty CourtandCrown Court.[6]

She was a founding member ofMatrix Chambersin London but no longer practises there. Matrix was formed in 2000 specialising inhuman rights law,though members also practise in a range of areas of UKpublicandprivate law,theLaw of the European UnionandEuropean Convention on Human Rights,in addition topublic international law.[7]She is Founder and chair of law firm Omnia Strategy LLP.[8]She specialises inemployment,discrimination, as well as public law; in this capacity, she has occasionally represented claimants taking cases against the UK Government.[9]

Blair has appeared in a number of leading cases. A notable example,Lisa Grant v South West Trains Ltd,before theEuropean Court of Justiceconcerned discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.[10][11]

Blair with Emirati politicianLubna Khalid Al Qasimiin 2011

In January 2010, when sentencing a defendant, Shamso Miah, for assault, Blair announced that she wouldsuspend his prison sentenceafter describing him as a "religious man". The court heard that Miah had been to a mosque shortly before he broke a man's jaw following a row in a bank queue. Blair told Miah: "You are a religious man and you know this is not acceptable behaviour." This was interpreted by some observers as special leniency given on account of the criminal's religiosity.[12][13]TheOffice for Judicial Complaintsreleased an initial statement saying they had "received a number of complaints in relation to the comments" that Blair had made when sentencing Shamso Miah and that the matter was under investigation.[14]On 10 June 2010, the OJC released a statement saying that the investigation had "found that Recorder Booth's observations did not constitute judicial misconduct" and accordingly "no disciplinary action is necessary".[15]A private letter to theNational Secular Societysaid, however, that the OJC had taken action in the form of "informal advice" from a more senior judge.[16]

In 2015, Blair defendedRwandanspy chiefEmmanuel Karenzi Karakeagainst accusations that he had conspired to murder three Spanish NGO workers and a Canadian priest.[17]Karake had allegedly done so because the workers knew about theRwandan Patriotic FrontkillingHutucivilians in theDemocratic Republic of the Congo.[17]

Blair launched a company called Mee Healthcare with an American business partner Gail Lese in 2011. In June 2015, it ceased trading and all staff were dismissed without notice.[18]

In 2021, Blair worked as an ethics adviser for Israeli security firmNSO Group.[19]

Career in academia

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Blair was the thirdChancellor of Liverpool John Moores Universityfrom 1999 to 2006. On 26 July 2006, she was awarded the honorary title ofEmerita Chancellor,as well as the university honorarily naming its new Cherie Booth Building. She is also Governor of the London School of Economics and theOpen University.On 2 March 2011, Blair was appointed the Chancellor of theAsian University for Women.[20]

Blair is regularly invited to speak at legal and leadership conferences, and has in the past participated in the World Law Forum, ET Women's Forum, Yidan Prize Summit and the Commonwealth Africa Summit, amongst others.

Honours and charity work

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In July 1999, Blair was awarded the honorary degree ofDoctor of the University(DUniv) from theOpen University.Blair is a patron ofBreast Cancer Care,a UK breast cancer information and support charity,Jospice,the international hospice organisation based in her home town ofCrosby,[21]and disability charityScope.[22]She is also involved with the British branch ofChild in Need India(CINI UK), and is the organisation's patron.[23][24]

In 2008, she launched her foundation, the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, a development organisation that aims to support women entrepreneurs in developing countries. "Our mission is to provide women with the skills, technology, networks and access to capital that they need to become successful small and growing business owners, so that they can contribute to their economies and have a stronger voice in their societies," says its mission statement.[25]

In 2010, Blair spoke atWE Day,an event held byWE Charityas part of their ongoing effort to empower youth and encourage them to get involved in their communities.[26]

Also in 2010, Blair founded the Africa Justice Foundation alongside barristersSuella Bravermanand Philip Riches.[27][28]

She was appointedCommander of the Order of the British Empire(CBE) in the2013 New Year Honoursfor services to women's issues and charity.[29]

In June 2018, "Cherie Blair Foundation for Women" was inducted into Power Brands LIFE – Hall of Fame at the London International Forum for Equality.[30]

Controversies

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In 2002, Blair purchased two flats inBristolwith the assistance, it was alleged but later denied, ofPeter Foster,a convicted Australianconmanand boyfriend of Blair's friendCarole Caplin,who negotiated a discount for Blair.[31]Blair publicly apologised for her embarrassing connection to Foster, stating "I did not think it was my business to choose my friends' friends".[31]

Her relationship with Caplin gave rise to headlines in some newspapers, as Caplin is credited with introducing Blair to variousNew Agesymbols and beliefs.[32]Reports of Blair's New Age practices included an account of her 2001 holiday in Mexico, when she and her husband, wearing only swimming costumes, privately took part in a rebirthing procedure that involved smearing mud and fruit over each other's bodies while sitting in a steam bath.[33]

In 2002, she apologised after saying within hours of aJerusalemblast that killed at least 19 people in reference to thePalestiniansuicide bombers:"As long as young people feel they have no hope but to blow themselves up, we're never going to make progress, are we?"[34][35]

On 12 December 2008, Blair gave a lecture alternatively entitled "The Church and Women's Rights: time for a fresh perspective?"[36]or "Religion as a Force in protecting Women's Human Rights"[37][38]at thePontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas,Angelicum,in Rome.[37][39]

In summer 2015, in the wake of theHillary Clinton email controversy,Blair was revealed byThe Guardianto have lobbied Clinton in 2009 on behalf of prominent members of the Qatari monarchy; Clinton was US Secretary of State at the time.[40][41]In a letter to the newspaper, Blair denied this characterisation of her mediation efforts, describing their story as "sensationalist and inaccurate".[42]Precisely two months later, the release of another batch of Clinton's private emails confirmed that Blair had, indeed, arranged meetings with Clinton for the Qataris outside normal diplomatic channels, with discussions to involve "theUS/Qatarrelationship generally ", not merely joint philanthropic efforts. In one case, Blair herself stated that her purpose was to help the eldest ofSheikha Mosah's sons,Jassim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani,"build up an international profile".[43]

In summer 2015, Blair's law firm accepted a large fee to advise theMaldivesgovernment as it faced a challenge from former Maldivian presidentMohamed Nasheedover his imprisonment for "terrorism". Nasheed, who served from 2008 to 2012 as his country'sfirst democratically elected leader,had received a 13-year prison sentence after a widely criticised trial.[44][45]

Personal life

[edit]

Family

[edit]
Euanand Cherie Blair at theRed Bull Air Racein 2007 in London

In 1976, while she was studying to become a barrister, she met future prime minister and husbandTony Blair.She obtained apupillagein the chambers ofDerry Irvineahead of him, although he was also taken on. Married on 31 March 1980, the Blairs have three sons and one daughter:Euan(born 1984), Nicholas (born 1985), Kathryn (born 1988), and Leo (born 2000).[46][47][48]

Leo was the first child born to the wife of a serving British prime minister in over 150 years, sinceRollo Russellwas born to Lady Frances Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound andLord John Russellon 11 July 1849. Another pregnancy at the age of 47 ended in miscarriage in early August 2002.[49]The Blair children attended Catholic secondary schools, including TheLondon Oratory School.All four children have Irish passports, by virtue of Tony Blair's mother, Hazel Elizabeth Corscadden, a Protestant, the daughter of George Corscadden, a butcher andOrangemanwho moved toGlasgowin 1916 but returned toBallyshannonin 1923, where Hazel was born to George and Sarah Margaret (née Lipsett), above her family's grocery shop.[50]Via her father, Blair and her younger sister Lyndsey have six half-sisters, including British journalistLauren Booth.[citation needed]

Her first grandchild (a girl) was born in October 2016.[51]

Political and religious views

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Blair has described herself as a socialist and, at times, has appeared to have views further to theleftthan those of her husband.[52]She is arepublicanand reportedly chooses to handshake rather thancurtsywhen meeting royals,[53][54]includingElizabeth II.[55]According to the royal historian Carolyn Harris, Blair's preference for a handshake "attracted controversy as it was seen as making a statement about her republican views".[54]Elizabeth herself was said to take amusement from Blair's refusal to curtsey and has been quoted as stating "I can almost feel Mrs Blair's knees stiffening when I come into the room".[56]

In March 2008, Blair chaired the Street Weapons Commission on behalf of the broadcasterChannel 4.She toured the UK and took evidence from people affected by street crime and published a report and practical advice in June 2008.[57]

She is a practising Roman Catholic.[58]In 2009, Blair urged the Catholic Church to reconsider its opposition tocontraception,suggesting it could be holding some women back from pursuing a career.[59]

InGeorge W. Bush's 2010 autobiographyDecision Points,Blair is briefly described as a fierce opponent of thedeath penalty.[60]

Writings, portrayals, and coverage in books, film and theatre

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Blair co-authored, withCate Haste,the 2004 bookThe Goldfish Bowl: Married to the Prime Minister.The book is a compilation history of the lives of spouses of British prime ministers for most of the second half of the 20th century. It covers the spouses of former prime ministersAnthony Eden,Harold Macmillan,Alec Douglas-Home,Harold Wilson,James Callaghan,Margaret Thatcher,andJohn Major.

Blair wrote a book of her memoirs, published in late May 2008, entitledSpeaking for Myself: The Autobiography,[61]and the book was listed as aSunday Timesbest-seller. Interviewed about the book byCarole MacNeilon the Canadian networkCBC Televisionon 1 June 2008, Blair stated that she felt most of the controversy about her in the British media was due to her pioneering role as the first wife of a British prime minister who had her own career, with the media simply not knowing how to treat her fairly and objectively.[62]

Played byHelen McCrory,Blair features as a character inThe Queen(2006), starringHelen Mirren,about the aftermath of thedeath of Diana, Princess of Walesin 1997, and is portrayed as a fierce anti-monarchist.[63]McCrory played her again in the 2010HBOfilmThe Special Relationship.Blair also features as a character inChris Bushand Ian McCluskey's productionTONY! The Blair Musical.[64]Phoebe Nichollsplayed her inThe Trial of Tony Blair(2007). She was also portrayed in the music video of "Shoot the Dog",a song byGeorge Michaelthat is critical ofTony BlairandGeorge W. Bush.[65]Blair is portrayed byLydia Leonardin the fifth and sixth seasons ofThe Crown.[66]

In June 2019, Blair signed on as an executive producer for Jerusalem-set drama feature filmThe Rock Pile,a first try into film production for her.[67]

Recognition

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She was recognised as one of the BBC's 100 women of 2013.[68]In 2023, she was awarded the 40 over 40 award by Monaco Voice.[69]

References

[edit]
  1. ^Blair, Cherie (2008), p. 9.
  2. ^Blair, Cherie (2008).Speaking for Myself: My Life from Liverpool to Downing Street.Little, Brown.
  3. ^West, Karl (26 February 2012)."Law school's £200m sale"Archived16 June 2016 at theWayback Machine.Sunday Times.Retrieved 2 June 2016 (subscription needed for full access).
  4. ^"Profile: Cherie Blair".BBC News.19 June 2002.Archivedfrom the original on 26 July 2008.Retrieved19 October2013.
  5. ^Walker, Tim (13 September 2009)."Cherie Blair plans to be Gordon Brown's secret weapon at the election".Daily Telegraph.London, UK: Telegraph Media Group. Archived fromthe originalon 28 January 2011.Retrieved1 April2013.
  6. ^"Comment by Cherie about Tony is naive".Lancashire Telegraph.10 October 2008.Archivedfrom the original on 15 December 2017.Retrieved15 December2017.
  7. ^"Matrix Chambers".matrixlaw.co.uk.Archived fromthe originalon 10 February 2006.
  8. ^"Omnia Team » Cherie Blair CBE, QC".omniastrategy.com.Archived fromthe originalon 30 August 2015.Retrieved1 September2015.
  9. ^"Purja & Ors, R (on the application of) v Ministry of Defence [2003] EWHC 445 (Admin) (21 February 2003)".Bailii.org.Retrieved19 October2013.
  10. ^"CURIA – Search form".Curia.europa.eu. Archived fromthe originalon 23 March 2007.Retrieved19 October2013.
  11. ^"Cherie Booth in plea for gay rights".The Independent.10 July 1997.Retrieved29 April2018.
  12. ^"Complaint after Cherie Booth spares religious man jail".BBC News.4 February 2010.Retrieved19 October2013.
  13. ^Taylor, Jerome (4 February 2010)."Secular society upset by Judge Cherie decision".The Independent.London, UK.Archivedfrom the original on 14 December 2013.Retrieved19 October2013.
  14. ^"Statement from the office of judicial complaints"(PDF).OJC. 10 February 2010. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 15 October 2010.Retrieved12 February2010.
  15. ^"Investigation Statement – Recorder Cherie Booth QC"(PDF).Office for Judicial Complaints. 10 June 2010. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 15 October 2010.Retrieved19 October2013.
  16. ^"Cover-up claim over Cherie Blair court remark to Muslim".BBC News.19 June 2010.Retrieved19 October2013.
  17. ^ab"Spanish Court Revives Case against Kagame's Military Entourage".Foreign Policy Journal.14 July 2017.
  18. ^"Cherie Blair's healthcare company goes bust and staff laid off".Metro. 20 June 2015.Archivedfrom the original on 21 July 2015.Retrieved17 July2015.
  19. ^Brown, David."Cherie Blair is adviser to NSO, the firm behind Pegasus spyware".The Times.Retrieved22 November2021.
  20. ^"Cherie Blair Named Chancellor of Asian University for Women".PR Newswire.UBM plc. 2 March 2011.Archivedfrom the original on 2 May 2014.Retrieved1 April2013.
  21. ^"Cherie Blair opens extension at Jospice in Thornton".YouTube. 1 June 2009.Archivedfrom the original on 10 March 2016.Retrieved19 October2013.
  22. ^"Our Patrons".Scope.Archivedfrom the original on 27 July 2014.Retrieved27 June2014.
  23. ^"Cherie Blair profile".Cherie Blair. Archived fromthe originalon 11 March 2012.Retrieved11 January2012.
  24. ^"Child in Need India".CINI. Archived fromthe originalon 20 January 2012.Retrieved11 January2012.
  25. ^"Cherie Blair Foundation for Women".Cherieblairfoundation.org.Archivedfrom the original on 20 October 2013.Retrieved19 October2013.
  26. ^"Students gather at ACC for 'We Day' celebration".Toronto.30 September 2010.Retrieved16 February2020.
  27. ^Blair, Cherie; Kewley, Jonathan (2 February 2011)."Why good laws hold the key to Africa's transformation".The Times.Retrieved24 October2014.
  28. ^Blair, Cherie (25 May 2011)."Justice, Stability and Prosperity: Building Fair Legal Systems for Africa".The Huffington Post.Retrieved24 October2014.
  29. ^"No. 60367".The London Gazette(Supplement). 29 December 2012. p. 7.
  30. ^Global, Power Brands."Power Brands Global".Power Brands Global.Retrieved29 May2019.
  31. ^ab"Cherie says 'sorry' for Foster dealings"Archived11 February 2006 at theWayback Machine,BBC, 10 December 2002.
  32. ^Cohen, Nick (10 December 2002)."Nick Cohen: Ev'rybody must get stones".The Observer.London.Archivedfrom the original on 9 July 2008.Retrieved19 October2013.
  33. ^How Mumbo-Jumbo Conquered the World,Francis Wheen,Harper Perennial 2004,ISBN0-00-714097-5
  34. ^Glover, Julian (9 February 2005)."Cherie under attack: from fur in flight to freebies".The Guardian.London.Archivedfrom the original on 6 July 2008.Retrieved19 October2013.
  35. ^"PM's wife 'sorry' in suicide bomb row".BBC News.18 June 2002.Archivedfrom the original on 18 June 2006.Retrieved19 October2013.
  36. ^"Women and Human Rights".Archived fromthe originalon 4 March 2016.Retrieved1 December2014.accessed 1 December 2014.
  37. ^abCrawley, William (6 December 2008)."Pro-life campaigners urge Catholic university to ban Cherie Blair".Will & Testament.BBC. Archived fromthe originalon 1 December 2014.Retrieved1 September2015.
  38. ^"Cherie Blair".Archived fromthe originalon 7 December 2014.Retrieved1 December2014.
  39. ^"Domine, da mihi hanc aquam!: Fr. Philip's comments on Cherie Blair's Angelicum lecture".18 December 2008.Archivedfrom the original on 25 December 2014.Retrieved1 December2014.accessed 1 December 2014.
  40. ^Roberts, Dan; Gibson, Owen (1 July 2015)."Hillary Clinton lobbied by Cherie Blair to meet Qatari royal, emails reveal".theguardian.com.Archivedfrom the original on 6 September 2015.Retrieved1 September2015.
  41. ^telegraph.co.uk: "Hillary Clinton may have broken US secrecy rules with emails from Tony Blair and Downing Street"Archived2 September 2015 at theWayback Machine,1 September 2015.
  42. ^Blair, Cherie (3 July 2015)."I did not lobby on behalf of Qatari royal".theguardian.com.Archivedfrom the original on 5 September 2015.Retrieved1 September2015.
  43. ^Harding, Luke (1 September 2015)."Hillary Clinton emails: Cherie Blair lobbied for Qatari crown prince".theguardian.com.Archivedfrom the original on 5 September 2015.Retrieved1 September2015.
  44. ^Sherwell, Philip (9 September 2015)."Amal Clooney v Cherie Blair: Maldives paradise islands stage battle of UK female lawyers".telegraph.co.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 11 September 2015.Retrieved21 September2015.
  45. ^"Conduct of trial of Maldives' ex-President raises serious concerns".ohchr.org.United Nations.Archivedfrom the original on 23 July 2017.Retrieved21 September2015.
  46. ^"Facts: Life and times of Tony Blair".Edition.cnn.com.Archivedfrom the original on 20 October 2013.Retrieved19 October2013.
  47. ^"Blair's son 'drunk and incapable'".BBC News.6 July 2000.Archivedfrom the original on 7 March 2009.
  48. ^"Blairs' family life under spotlight".2006.Archivedfrom the original on 15 December 2017.Retrieved15 December2017.
  49. ^"Cherie Blair suffers miscarriage".BBC News.6 August 2002.Archivedfrom the original on 24 January 2003.Retrieved19 October2013.
  50. ^Mcdonagh, Melanie (13 September 2009)."Names that mean trouble".Sunday Times.London, UK. Archived fromthe originalon 28 July 2011.
  51. ^Blair, Cherie(27 October 2016)."Equality between men and women is still 170 years away".The Independent.Retrieved28 October2016.Last week Tony and I were delighted to welcome our first grandchild into the family.
  52. ^Kettle, Martin (17 May 2008)."Martin Kettle interviews Cherie Blair".The Guardian.London.Archivedfrom the original on 21 October 2013.Retrieved19 October2013.
  53. ^Wilson, Graeme (31 August 2006)."Blairs' nine-year royal ordeal is almost over".The Daily Telegraph.Retrieved23 June2023.
  54. ^abTurner, Lauren (9 August 2018)."Theresa May and the art of the curtsy".BBC News.Retrieved23 June2023.
  55. ^Brown, Jonathan (29 April 2006)."Forget the protocols, Cherie has a private chat with the Pope".The Independent.Retrieved25 June2023.
  56. ^Bradford, Sarah (8 April 2006)."The Queen has succeeded simply by being herself: Reflections on the Queen's extraordinary life".The Spectator.pp. 12–13.Retrieved25 June2023.
  57. ^Conlan, Tara (26 March 2008)."Cherie Booth tackles street crime with Channel 4".The Guardian.London.Archivedfrom the original on 21 October 2013.Retrieved19 October2013.
  58. ^"Faith".The Times.London. Archived fromthe originalon 8 October 2011.Retrieved19 October2013.
  59. ^"Blair: end Church's hard line on birth control".Herald Scotland.31 August 2009.Archivedfrom the original on 22 May 2013.
  60. ^Bush, George W. (2010).Decision Points.New York, NY: Crown Publishers. p.231.ISBN978-0-307-59061-9.
  61. ^Blair, Cherie (2008). Book cover.
  62. ^CBC Television,1 June 2008; interview byCarole MacNeil.
  63. ^Ebert, Roger."The Queen Movie Review & Film Summary (2006) | Roger Ebert".www.rogerebert.com.Archivedfrom the original on 25 July 2017.Retrieved15 December2017.
  64. ^"TLS - Times Literary Supplement".Archived fromthe originalon 8 May 2009.Retrieved31 May2008.(subscription required)
  65. ^Tempest, Matthew (1 July 2002)."George Michael lampoons 'poodle' Blair".The Guardian.Retrieved16 November2023.
  66. ^"Who plays Cherie Blair in The Crown?".Radio Times.Retrieved16 November2023.
  67. ^Goodfellow, Melanie (19 June 2019)."Cherie Blair signs on as executive producer for Jerusalem-set drama 'The Rock Pile'".Screen.Retrieved30 April2020.
  68. ^"100 Women: Who took part?".BBC News.20 October 2013.Retrieved18 December2022.
  69. ^Voice, Monaco."Cherie Blair, CBE KC".Monaco Voice.Retrieved26 June2023.

Cited texts

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External videos
video icon'Twiggy' Forrest and Cherie Blaire call for tougher modern slavery laws,Matter Of Fact With Stan Grant,ABC News
Unofficial roles
Preceded by Spouse of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
1997–2007 		Succeeded by
Academic offices
Preceded by Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University
1999–2007 		Succeeded by
Orders of precedence in the United Kingdom
Preceded by Wife of a Knight of the Garter Succeeded by
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