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FORMER BRITISH PRIME minister Tony Blair announced a return to domestic politics to fight Brexit today, while acknowledging he remains a divisive figure whose contribution may not be welcomed.
The former Labour leader will not be standing in the 8 June general election, but said he wanted to get his “hands dirty” and help shape the debate as Britain prepares to enter negotiations on leaving the EU.
Blair won a record three elections as Labour prime minister and spent 10 years in Downing Street from 2 May, 1997 to 2007.
But his final years in office were marred by his decision to join the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq – a legacy he cannot shake off.
“I know the moment I stick my head out the door I’ll get a bucket of wotsit poured all over me, but I really do feel passionate about this,” Blair told the Daily Mirror tabloid.
“I don’t want to be in the situation where we pass through this moment of history and I hadn’t said anything because that would mean I didn’t care about this country. I do.”
He said his goal was not to defy last year’s referendum vote in favour of Brexit, but that voters should be given a chance to change their mind once the final EU exit deal becomes clear.
Leaving the European single market and seeking a free trade agreement, as Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May intends, would be “relegating ourselves” from the top in the international order.
“This Brexit thing has given me a direct motivation to get more involved in the politics,” the 63-year-old said.
You need to get your hands dirty and I will.
‘Rally the troops’
It remains unclear exactly what Blair intends to do, or how helpful his intervention would be.
In the Labour party, now led by leftist Jeremy Corbyn, the term “Blairite” – to describe Blair’s centrist, business-friendly policies – is widely used as an insult.
Among the public, 74% of people have an unfavourable view of Blair, according to a YouGov survey published in November.
“Even some of his supporters think the more he keeps quiet the better it is,” said Steven Fielding, a professor of politics at the University of Nottingham.
Blair spent several years after leaving office working in the Middle East and on African issues, but has become increasingly outspoken on domestic issues in recent months.
He has set up a not-for-profit Institute for Global Change to campaign, among other things, to “revitalise the centre ground” and tackle the “destructive approach of populism”.
He told the Mirror: “I am not sure I can turn something into a political movement but I think there is a body of ideas out there people would support.”
Last week, Blair conceded the Conservatives looked set to win the election, as opinion polls put them more than 20 points ahead.
In an interview with Sky News, he said the “real issue” was by how much they won, warning against giving May a “blank cheque”.
Many commentators suggested such comments will do little to help Labour’s campaign.
He has also been accused of encouraging tactical voting, if necessary for another party, to elect anti-Brexit candidates next month — something he denies, vowing his loyalty to Labour.
“Tony Blair is a voice that gets attention and he’s using it for his own purposes, to rally the troops in the bigger cross-party battle which is all about Brexit,” Fielding told AFP.
But he warned: “He is not going to be like King Arthur who is sleeping and will awake and save England in the hour of England’s need.”
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In the UK a war criminal wants to get back into politics. Not unlike Ireland, where another criminal wants to get back into politics, while others are re-elected. There’s a sickness in this world!
@Les Behan: everyone on this website were eulogising over a terrorist not so long ago.
@FPL Thommo: Who? Nelson Mandela?
@Les Behan: Martin McTerrorist
@FPL Thommo: Very few people praised McGuinness without mentioning his history. Let’s not pretend that everyone was all rose tinted glasses.
@Tony Canning: many of the shinnerbots eulogised McGuinness, and did by and would not condemn his murderous ways
@Alan Brogan: yes but that is not representative of “everyone” on this site. Some did, more didn’t
@Tony Canning: shinnerbots, What a blue shirt remark, Grow up and except the fact more and more people are embracing the SF approach to Government, I suggest you try and goggle the history of FF or FG, But you may be one of these people that thinks Irish history only began in the 1970s.
@David Huston: funny story. Sinn Fein approach to government is to run cap in hand to London. Actions speak louder than words
@Alan Brogan: I’m sorry I don’t understand your comment, Could you elaborate.
FPl, a statesman. There are no successful terrorists. Only dead ones and the statesmen they turn into if not deaded.
Does he realise he’s the most hated figure in British politics?
@Damocles:
Only by the Tory press. He was one of the most successful PM’s, during his time the economy grew strongly, tens of billions were put into the NHS and he secured peace in NI. Not bad at all.
@Fred Jensen: indeed like or loathe him I would say his political competence is an order of magnitude greater than the main figures in either tory or labour parties at the moment. Him coming back would be a positive for me.
The only thing blair should be getting his hands dirty on are the bars of a prison cell in the hague while he awaits trial over the Iraq war.
@The Risen: didn’t he bring peace to NI too, wasn’t that ‘enough’ to release McGuinness, the terrorist, from his past, in your own terrorist sympathising eyes? Your double standards are, as always, truly remarkable.
@Alan Brogan: Blair could be really lucky and have one of those magic get out of jail free letters in his back pocket or were they for the sole exclusive use of the Provos?
@The Risen: rubbish man, stick to your restoration project in Moore Street !
@Mike Howard: what is rubbish? That Marin McGuinness was a terrorist? I agree 100%. Well said.
Pi$$ off Tony, you’ve done enough damage already
Needs to admit he got Iraq wrong and explain why he was so totally supportive of Bush……He must have known Iraq had nothing to do with 911 and had no weapons that could hit London in 30 minutes….If he admitted all that then he has a role in getting Britain back into EU….
@John003:
Did Tony Blair apologise already on this issue ?
@Alan Scott: He does regret the outcome of the war ….not the decision to go to war. He says he regrets this…..
The aftermath turned out more hostile, protracted and bloody than we ever imagined.
The Coalition planned for one set of ground facts and encountered another
@Alan Scott: No he didn’t apologise why would he? A person with his moral fibre could never apologise.
Fair play to Blair, a sensible centrist is so refreshing when contrasted to Tory hard Brexit and the muffin headed lefty Corbyn.
I just cannot wait for the delusion and pomposity of the Brexiteers to clear and for that moment when the penny drops, when they realise they cannot have their cake and eat it too, when they realise they will indeed be worse off, that there is no upside to Brexit whatsoever. I just hope i have my phone to hand to tape the look on their faces.
@Fred Jensen:
‘Theresa May is deluded’ – Juncker in scathing call with Merkel after Brexit talks
There are many upsides for Brexiteers. You should maybe try living their lives and see how you get on. Your OCD obsession with brexit and the people who voted for it is getting weird. Meantime my family in England are more worried about it taking over a month to get a GP appointment because of the overload of systems etc. Ultimately that situation caused the death of my mother. You know nothing about the complex lives of ordinary people in England.
@Patrick J. O’Rourke:
And what has that got to do with the EU? Remembering of course that EU migrants in the UK pay far more tax than they take out.
@Patrick J. O’Rourke: getting rid of EU workers from the NHS is going to do much more damage and lengthen waiting times. They’re already short over 20,000 nurses for next year.
@Fred Jensen: Actually we would be all better off outside of the EU, role on EirXIT and let us get our independence back if only our government knew what to do with that scenario. We are a nation of cap tippers now let us get off the fence and show that we are a nation with balls instead of having a cowardly submissive approach to authority, whether they were English or the Clergy
@Fred Jensen: well put..
Looking at Blair and Ahearn trying to resurrect themselves is nauseating.
I’d say his hands are dirty enough already.
@Ricky Spanish: Dirty, bloody….
Not all the perfumes of Arabia (if he’s left any unburnt; unbombed; unvapourised; and intact) could wash the spots of damnation from his hands and his soul.
Good netflix documentary on Mr Blair. That guy has some of the world’s most despicable people on his books. Shocking and a good watch
@Science of beer: what’s the documentary called – would be interested in watching it.
@Charles Alexander: The Killing$ of Tony Blair
@Michael Carton: thank you
Perhaps he should wash the blood off them first
May not be the brightest thing to do!
Goes to show the contempt the media have towards the public in general when they still put this war criminal on a pedistal and quote his words. He lied about the WMD and ignored the public and now he wants to have a democratic vote overturned. Has this crettan or the crettans in the media have any respect for the public?
Think your hands are dirty enough, too many innocent People perished when you got involved in Iraq!
This is getting to the point of the absurd. Theresa May is doing a great job in wrecking Brexit already, why is this gboshtie trying to undo all her good work.
Anyone with a spare bullet???
He is a war criminal and should be before the ICC in the Hague, but then again that is a compromised court really only concentrating on African despots and ignoring European and US despots with the exception of Milosevic, who was eventually freed.
Disgusting man who betrayed Labours core demographic through reducing workers rights (zero hours etc) and mass immigration of incompatible peoples. Did more harm to British society than Thatcher, I sincerely hope that their is a place in hell for him.
All he is interested in is keeping the gravy train going for him and his wife. Some Labour party ethics there boyo.
Agh welcome back Mr Blair ! The Great Middle East peace envoy !Gets paid to make war gets paid to make peace great gig if you can get it folks !
His hands are already Dirty with the grime of war criminal, his arrogance is breathtaking , almost as much as Bertie Ahern, both seem dillusional with assumptions any one gives a S@$T about their opinions
I am happy to see Blair making statements that will annoy the majority of UK citizens who voted to leave EU. It could even change the opinions of some who voted to remain in EU.
Personally, I want UK out of EU. They have always wanted opt-outs, special treatment and so on. If they aren’t commited to EU goals, they should leave. They should construct their border controls as they wish and isolate themselves from their European neighbours. Even other non EU European countries are in Schengen, the customs union and the single market.
I laughed when I saw The Guardian newspaper refer to their own Prime MInister as “Kim Jong-May”.
They already filthy. A born liar who deceived the British people over Iraq. He and his evil twin Bush have the blood of thousands on their hands.
@Martin Murphy: like McGuinness so.
Child killer
He could have gone down in history as the Prime Minister who brought peace to Northern Ireland.. if he hadn’t gone on to collaborate with a disgusting , unjustified War ..
I’ll never forget his speech warning of Weapons of Mass Destruction aimed at U.K. .
He’s a War Criminal.
Aren’t his hands dirty enough……
Be great to see Tony and Bertie back in the mix. Legends.
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