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General election: Tony Blair says Tories and Labour both 'peddling fantasies' – live news General election: Tony Blair says Tories and Labour both 'peddling fantasies' – live news
(32 minutes later)
A day after Boris Johnson launched Tory manifesto, Labour leader will announce big shift in housing planA day after Boris Johnson launched Tory manifesto, Labour leader will announce big shift in housing plan
Blair is wrapping up now.
He says, whatever happens, Britain is a great country.
He recalls a visit to an African country recently. The president told him he was sorry for what was happening in Britain.
Q: Is it getting harder and harder to stay optimistic. What are the chances this will go your way?
Blair says he is naturally optimistic. But he is not sure he still is. He is worried, he says. Some days he thinks this problem will blow itself out. Other days he thinks the problems are really deep.
But we need to think deeply as a country, he says. He says he does not think the country can go on like this for long without “severe damage”.
People are less deferential, which is good. And they want a say, which is good. But people have to share responsibility.
When this is over, “we’ve got to up the quality of political discourse”, he says.
He says what populism does is “ride the anger”.
He says he is passionate about technology because he thinks that is an essential part of what a modern political agenda looks like.
And that’s it. The Q&A is over.
I’ll post a summary soon.
Q: Where is Labour facing the most difficulties?
Blair says it is probably in the seats with electorates seen as working class.
He says his successor in Sedgefield is facing a tough election. But when he was MP there, the Labour vote was very solid. He says when he first used to canvas there in 1983, based on his experience in London, he would knock on doors and ask people if he could count on their vote for Labour. He says people used to be offended like that; they would think he was questioning their loyalty to Labour.
He says in some ways it is good that people are not as tribal as they used to be. But it has created problems for Labour, he says.
Q: Is Jeremy Corbyn a fit and proper person to become prime minister?
Blair says he will choose his words carefully. His differences with Corbyn are well documented, and his views have not changed. But he thinks there is a “pretty negligible” chance of Corbyn winning.
Q: You make a distinction between extremists and moderates. Where do the SNP fit in?
Blair says he does not agree with the SNP on Scottish independence, but he does not see them as extremists.
Q: What are the prospects of a trade deal with the US?
Blair says trade deals are like “reform”. Politicians always say they are in favour of both. But when it comes to the details, that is a different matter.
He says anything happening in UK-US trade talks would impact on trade talks with the EU.
And he says, any trade deal would have to pass congress. He suggests he does not think that is likely.
Blair is now taking questions from the audience.
Q: Do you think a government of national unity is still possible?
Yes, says Blair. He thinks that is a possibility.
Q: If the Tories get a majority, will you give up fighting Brexit?Q: If the Tories get a majority, will you give up fighting Brexit?
Blair says, if the Tories get a majority and the UK leaves on 31 January, we are going to have to make it work.Blair says, if the Tories get a majority and the UK leaves on 31 January, we are going to have to make it work.
But he says at that point there will still be an argument to be had about Britain’s relationship with Europe.But he says at that point there will still be an argument to be had about Britain’s relationship with Europe.
Blair says some in the Tory cabinet would support a WTO Brexit (ie, a no-deal Brexit, with the UK trading on World Trade Organisation terms). He says he does not think they understand what it would be like. He has spoken to the WTO about this, he sya. He says no serious person would advocate this for the UK.Blair says some in the Tory cabinet would support a WTO Brexit (ie, a no-deal Brexit, with the UK trading on World Trade Organisation terms). He says he does not think they understand what it would be like. He has spoken to the WTO about this, he sya. He says no serious person would advocate this for the UK.
More from the Blair Q&A - from the Independent’s John Rentoul and HuffPost’s Paul WaughMore from the Blair Q&A - from the Independent’s John Rentoul and HuffPost’s Paul Waugh
Tony Blair is now taking questions from Alex Threlfall from Reuters.Tony Blair is now taking questions from Alex Threlfall from Reuters.
Blair said that he would be voting Labour at the election. He said the Lib Dem Chuka Umunna is a candidate in the constituency where he lives (Cities of London and Westminster). Blair said he understood why people might want to vote for Umunna, but he said his position as a former Labour leader meant that he was in a special position. He implied that he thought it was important for him to remain in the Labour party (he would be thrown out if he publicly backed a candidate for another party) because he wanted a say in what would happen to the party next.Blair said that he would be voting Labour at the election. He said the Lib Dem Chuka Umunna is a candidate in the constituency where he lives (Cities of London and Westminster). Blair said he understood why people might want to vote for Umunna, but he said his position as a former Labour leader meant that he was in a special position. He implied that he thought it was important for him to remain in the Labour party (he would be thrown out if he publicly backed a candidate for another party) because he wanted a say in what would happen to the party next.
Blair ended his speech by saying he expects the next parliament to agree to a second referendum at some point.Blair ended his speech by saying he expects the next parliament to agree to a second referendum at some point.
He also said he hoped that at some point in the future someone would rebuild “the sensible mainstream” in British politics.He also said he hoped that at some point in the future someone would rebuild “the sensible mainstream” in British politics.
Blair said he had been campaigning for “great Labour candidates”.
Blair also criticised Labour’s platform.
Blair highlighted further problems with a Canada-style trade deal.
Starting with the Conservatives, Blair argues that there is no chance of Boris Johnson being able to negotiate a trade deal with the EU by the end of 2020, as he claims.
Blair says both main parties in the election are peddling fantasies.
Blair says there is “unprecedented volatility” in the electorate.
Blair says populism has become a feature of British politics, on the right and on the left.
In June 2016 Britain was a “reasonably successful and influential power”, he says. Now “we’re a mess”, he says.
Blair repeats an argument he has made many times before – that it was a mistake to use a general election to resolve Brexit. (He would have preferred a second referendum.)
He says both main parties are campaigning on the basis that the alternative would be worse.
Tony Blair is starting his speech at the Reuters Newsmaker event now.
He says British politics is crazy and chaotic.
Tony Blair, the former Labour prime minister, is about to make his first proper intervention during the election campaign in a speech at a Reuters Newsmaker event. According to extracts released in advance, he will say that Boris Johnson’s claim about being able to get Brexit done by the end of January is a “fantasy”. He will say:
Blair will also say that the prospect of a no-deal Brexit is back on the table because Johnson says he would not agree to extending the Brexit transition beyond the end of next year. Many trade experts think agreeing a UK-EU trade deal before then will not be possible. Blair will say:
Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, taking over from Mattha Busby.
John Healey, the shadow housing secretary, has just been on the Today programme talking about Labour’s plans to protect renters. Echoing arguments he used in his earlier interview (see 7.39am), he said that this was a market that was “clearly failing” and that tighter rules were required. When it was put to him that strengthening protections for tenants might make landlords less willing to rent, he said that in Germany regulation of this market was stronger, but the size of the rental market was also much bigger.
Healey was also asked why Labour was now committed to spending £58bn compensating women who lost out from the sharp increase in the state pension age. This plan was not in Labour’s manifesto, and the cost was not included in the costings document that was published alongside the manifesto. Labour says it will raise the £58bn from borrowing.
When it was put to Healey that this plan contravened Labour’s promise to borrow only to invest, he said this was not normal government spending. It was a “one-off compensation payment”, he said. He said even if the Conservatives won the election, they might end up having to pay compensation like this if they lose a legal challenge.