The bit about her criticism of de Villepin being 'Blairite'. The general convention is that you put scare-quotes around an adjective if you want to indicate that the use of the adjective is questionable in some way.

Often this is done when a (poor IMO) writer wants to use a word or phrase that they are worried is innappropriately slangy or informal for the intended audience; its a defensive move on the part of the author - 'Calling this argument "Blairite" is a bit trendy for you stodgy financial types, but bear with me.' This is the reading I think you are making based upon the conclusion you are drawing.

The other way however (and better technique IMO) is when the writer uses a word or phrase whose meaning they wish to challenge but which (they allege) is in common parlance - 'This criticism has been described as Blairite, but I have wisely deduced that this is not so because it is actually derived from a leftist analysis.'

This is the reading I think the writer intends - "Royale is presenting (or being spun) as a Blairite, but she's actually a wrong-headed lefty."

Regards
Luke

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