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| Tony Blair: debilitated Labour is facilitating a disastrous Brexit | Tony Blair: debilitated Labour is facilitating a disastrous Brexit |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Tony Blair has accused a “debilitated” Labour party of allowing a disastrous Brexit to happen, as he called for a cross-party political movement to oppose leaving the EU. | Tony Blair has accused a “debilitated” Labour party of allowing a disastrous Brexit to happen, as he called for a cross-party political movement to oppose leaving the EU. |
| The former Labour prime minister turned on his own party, saying there was inadequate opposition to Theresa May’s pursuit of Brexit at any cost. | The former Labour prime minister turned on his own party, saying there was inadequate opposition to Theresa May’s pursuit of Brexit at any cost. |
| “The debilitation of the Labour party is the facilitator of Brexit. I hate to say that but it is true,” he said. He dismissed accusations it was undemocratic to carry on debating Brexit, arguing that the country could change its mind when people realised the “misery and pain” it would cause. | “The debilitation of the Labour party is the facilitator of Brexit. I hate to say that but it is true,” he said. He dismissed accusations it was undemocratic to carry on debating Brexit, arguing that the country could change its mind when people realised the “misery and pain” it would cause. |
| Speaking at Bloomberg in London on Friday, he said: “Where is the pressure on the government? The pressure is all one way.” | Speaking at Bloomberg in London on Friday, he said: “Where is the pressure on the government? The pressure is all one way.” |
| Blair said he was setting up an institute to make the case against Brexit, but denied he was thinking of setting up a new political party on the centre ground. | Blair said he was setting up an institute to make the case against Brexit, but denied he was thinking of setting up a new political party on the centre ground. |
| Challenged about whether he was the right messenger, Blair said: “This a free country. I’ve got a right to speak and you’ve got a right to listen or not.” | Challenged about whether he was the right messenger, Blair said: “This a free country. I’ve got a right to speak and you’ve got a right to listen or not.” |
| He also raised eyebrows by saying the case for Scottish independence had become “more credible” as a result of Brexit, as the Scottish people voted to remain in contrast to England and Wales. | He also raised eyebrows by saying the case for Scottish independence had become “more credible” as a result of Brexit, as the Scottish people voted to remain in contrast to England and Wales. |
| In his first major intervention since the referendum, Blair declared it his mission to persuade the UK to stay in the EU, calling for remain supporters to “rise up in defence of what we believe”. | In his first major intervention since the referendum, Blair declared it his mission to persuade the UK to stay in the EU, calling for remain supporters to “rise up in defence of what we believe”. |
| “The people voted without knowledge of the true terms of Brexit. As these terms become clear, it is their right to change their mind,” he said. “Our mission is to persuade them to do so.” | “The people voted without knowledge of the true terms of Brexit. As these terms become clear, it is their right to change their mind,” he said. “Our mission is to persuade them to do so.” |
| He is already facing a backlash from Conservative ministers and some in Labour for arguing that people were misinformed when they voted for Brexit. | He is already facing a backlash from Conservative ministers and some in Labour for arguing that people were misinformed when they voted for Brexit. |
| The speech was highly controversial at a time when May has criticised those seeking to deny the “will of the people” as reflected by the EU referendum vote on 23 June 2016, and when Labour’s leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has pledged not to block the triggering of Brexit. | The speech was highly controversial at a time when May has criticised those seeking to deny the “will of the people” as reflected by the EU referendum vote on 23 June 2016, and when Labour’s leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has pledged not to block the triggering of Brexit. |
| Blair gave an interview last November saying Brexit could be halted if the British people decided the costs of leaving the EU greatly outweighed any benefits, as he signalled a return to political activity. | Blair gave an interview last November saying Brexit could be halted if the British people decided the costs of leaving the EU greatly outweighed any benefits, as he signalled a return to political activity. |
| But in his speech hosted by Open Britain, the successor to the remain campaign, he went further in issuing a rallying call, to those who want to remain in the EU, to fight against Brexit. | But in his speech hosted by Open Britain, the successor to the remain campaign, he went further in issuing a rallying call, to those who want to remain in the EU, to fight against Brexit. |
| “Our challenge is to expose relentlessly the actual cost, to show how this decision was based on imperfect knowledge which will now become informed knowledge, to calculate in ‘easy to understand’ ways how proceeding will cause real damage to the country and its citizens, and to build support for finding a way out from the present rush over the cliff’s edge,” the former Labour leader said. | “Our challenge is to expose relentlessly the actual cost, to show how this decision was based on imperfect knowledge which will now become informed knowledge, to calculate in ‘easy to understand’ ways how proceeding will cause real damage to the country and its citizens, and to build support for finding a way out from the present rush over the cliff’s edge,” the former Labour leader said. |
| “I don’t know if we can succeed. But I do know we will suffer a rancorous verdict from future generations if we do not try. This is not the time for retreat, indifference or despair, but the time to rise up in defence of what we believe.” | “I don’t know if we can succeed. But I do know we will suffer a rancorous verdict from future generations if we do not try. This is not the time for retreat, indifference or despair, but the time to rise up in defence of what we believe.” |
| Blair said the British people voted to leave Europe and the will of the people should prevail, but that public opinion might not always be pro-Brexit as the terms of leaving became clear. | Blair said the British people voted to leave Europe and the will of the people should prevail, but that public opinion might not always be pro-Brexit as the terms of leaving became clear. |
| He also suggested May and her pro-Brexit colleagues have been abusing the “mantle of patriotism” to make their case for proceeding with an exit from the EU. | He also suggested May and her pro-Brexit colleagues have been abusing the “mantle of patriotism” to make their case for proceeding with an exit from the EU. |
| “We do not argue for Britain in Europe because we are citizens of nowhere,” he said. “We argue for it precisely because we are proud citizens of our country who believe that in the 21st century we should maintain our partnership with the biggest political union and largest commercial market right on our doorstep; not in diminution of our national interest, but in satisfaction of it.” | “We do not argue for Britain in Europe because we are citizens of nowhere,” he said. “We argue for it precisely because we are proud citizens of our country who believe that in the 21st century we should maintain our partnership with the biggest political union and largest commercial market right on our doorstep; not in diminution of our national interest, but in satisfaction of it.” |
| Despite having previously described the Conservative prime minister as “a very solid, sensible person” he was strongly critical of her government’s approach to Brexit as she prepares to trigger article 50 by the end of March, notifying the EU of the UK’s intention to leave. | Despite having previously described the Conservative prime minister as “a very solid, sensible person” he was strongly critical of her government’s approach to Brexit as she prepares to trigger article 50 by the end of March, notifying the EU of the UK’s intention to leave. |
| “This is a government for Brexit, of Brexit and dominated by Brexit. It is a mono-purpose political entity,” he said. “Those driving this always wanted a hard Brexit. Indeed even the term ‘hard Brexit’ requires amendment. The policy is now Brexit at any cost.” | “This is a government for Brexit, of Brexit and dominated by Brexit. It is a mono-purpose political entity,” he said. “Those driving this always wanted a hard Brexit. Indeed even the term ‘hard Brexit’ requires amendment. The policy is now Brexit at any cost.” |
| May, who has come under pressure to guarantee the rights of EU nationals living in the UK, had stressed on Thursday that Britain would remain an “open and tolerant” country and that French people would “always be welcome”, ahead of talks with her French counterpart, Bernard Cazeneuve. She wrote in Le Figaro newspaper that the UK would not try to “cherry-pick” elements of EU membership, but would be leaving altogether. | May, who has come under pressure to guarantee the rights of EU nationals living in the UK, had stressed on Thursday that Britain would remain an “open and tolerant” country and that French people would “always be welcome”, ahead of talks with her French counterpart, Bernard Cazeneuve. She wrote in Le Figaro newspaper that the UK would not try to “cherry-pick” elements of EU membership, but would be leaving altogether. |
| Blair’s intervention will be particularly inflammatory as many of his critics have accused him of presiding over a wave of immigration from eastern European countries without being straight with the electorate about its likely magnitude. He directly addressed the issue of immigration in his speech, arguing that leaving the EU would only reduce the number of new arrivals to the UK by a fraction. | Blair’s intervention will be particularly inflammatory as many of his critics have accused him of presiding over a wave of immigration from eastern European countries without being straight with the electorate about its likely magnitude. He directly addressed the issue of immigration in his speech, arguing that leaving the EU would only reduce the number of new arrivals to the UK by a fraction. |
| “There is, in some parts of the country, a genuine concern about numbers from Europe – real pressures on services and wages. But for many people, the core of the immigration question – and one which I fully accept is a substantial issue – is immigration from non-European countries especially when from different cultures in which assimilation and potential security threats can be an issue. | “There is, in some parts of the country, a genuine concern about numbers from Europe – real pressures on services and wages. But for many people, the core of the immigration question – and one which I fully accept is a substantial issue – is immigration from non-European countries especially when from different cultures in which assimilation and potential security threats can be an issue. |
| “Nonetheless, we have moved in a few months from a debate about what sort of Brexit, involving a balanced consideration of all the different possibilities, to the primacy of one consideration – namely controlling immigration from the EU – without any real discussion as to why and when Brexit doesn’t affect the immigration people most care about.” | “Nonetheless, we have moved in a few months from a debate about what sort of Brexit, involving a balanced consideration of all the different possibilities, to the primacy of one consideration – namely controlling immigration from the EU – without any real discussion as to why and when Brexit doesn’t affect the immigration people most care about.” |
| Blair’s contribution was praised by Lib Dem leader Tim Farron, who said: “Tony Blair is right. The challenge now is to persuade people to change their mind - and the Liberal Democrats are the only party offering them a chance to have their voice heard again. Blair’s speech shows how badly Corbyn’s Labour has failed as an opposition. Labour have waved the white flag and given Theresa May a blank cheque for a divisive, hard Brexit.” | |
| Nick Clegg, the former deputy prime minister, and Lib Dem Brexit spokesman said: | |
| I agreed with every single word of that. | |
| But some other pro-EU politicians were not impressed. Caroline Lucas, the Green party co-leader, called it “staggeringly unhelpful” and said it would be better if Blair “butted out” of the debate. | |
| At Ukip’s spring conference in Bolton, former leader Nigel Farage said: “He clearly hasn’t grasped that if the referendum was held again tomorrow the margin would be at least three times larger than it was last June.” | |
| “There is yesterday’s man. He’s like the heavy-weight world champion who has been retired for a few years who needs money so comes out of retirement and gets knocked out in the first round.” | |
| Dominic Raab MP, a Tory MP on the Commons Brexit committee said: “Tony Blair, who allowed uncontrolled migration from the EU when Labour was in power, refuses to accept the decision people made last June. He wants to go on putting the question over and over again until he gets a different answer. It is the height of arrogance and nothing could be more likely to convince the EU to offer the UK the worst possible deal than his suggestion that the decision could be overturned.” | |
| Blair’s position contrasts sharply with that of Corbyn, who took the decision to order his MPs to vote in favour of May’s Brexit bill last week. Four shadow cabinet ministers resigned so they could be among the 47 Labour MPs to vote against Brexit. | Blair’s position contrasts sharply with that of Corbyn, who took the decision to order his MPs to vote in favour of May’s Brexit bill last week. Four shadow cabinet ministers resigned so they could be among the 47 Labour MPs to vote against Brexit. |
| Corbyn has made clear Labour will not block Brexit, although the party is likely to renew its attempt to secure amendments to the bill when it passes through the Lords, starting on Monday. | Corbyn has made clear Labour will not block Brexit, although the party is likely to renew its attempt to secure amendments to the bill when it passes through the Lords, starting on Monday. |
| Open Britain has emerged as a cross-party political force since the referendum, with the purpose of campaigning against a “hard, destructive Brexit”. Its key supporters in parliament include Clegg and the Tory MPs Anna Soubry and Dominic Grieve, the Labour MPs Chuka Umunna and Chris Leslie. |