I don't know but i suspect he's more likely to be suggesting the guardian are playing down Blair's faults as part of their support of one faction over another i

I don't know but i suspect he's more likely to be suggesting the guardian are playing down Blair's faults as part of their support of one faction over another in the power struggles of the labour party. Eg Starmer over Corbyn factions. I don't really follow uk leftist politics to be at all sure about that. So yeah the inference from it, dunno. The observation seems valid though. Amplifying the parts of le Carre's views that you like and support. Glossing over those that don't support your position.