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Blair issues Labour rallying call Blair issues Labour rallying call
(20 minutes later)
Tony Blair says he is "still optimistic" about Britain's future because Gordon Brown's government took the right decisions when recession hit.Tony Blair says he is "still optimistic" about Britain's future because Gordon Brown's government took the right decisions when recession hit.
The former prime minister has entered the pre-election fray with his first domestic political speech since he stepped down as PM in 2007. The former prime minister entered the pre-election fray with his first domestic political speech since he stepped down as PM in 2007.
He is addressing Labour members in the Sedgefield constituency which he represented as an MP for 24 years. He addressed Labour members in the Sedgefield constituency which he represented as an MP for 24 years.
Mr Blair led Labour to three successive general election victories. Mr Blair also accused the Tories of being "confused" on policy.
He praised Mr Brown's "experience, judgement and boldness". Mr Blair led Labour to three successive general election victories and, although he and Mr Brown had an often difficult relationship while they were prime minister and chancellor, the two campaigned alongside each other to secure victories in 1997, 2001 and 2005.
On the economy, he said the Labour government realised that "decisive action was necessary and urgent. Britain acted". In his speech, Mr Blair praised Mr Brown, saying he had the "experience, judgement and boldness" to take the right decisions on the economy.
He added: "It required leadership. Gordon Brown supplied it." He said the Labour government realised that "decisive action was necessary and urgent. Britain acted", adding: "It required leadership. Gordon Brown supplied it."
EYEWITNESS By Brian Wheeler, BBC News, in Sedgefield There has been a palpable sense of anticipation outside Trimdon Labour club since early this morning. The area is cordoned off, the police are out in force, and a large media pack has arrived through the thick fog. This small village has not seen anything like it since their ex-MP made his farewell appearance as prime minister back in 2007. The weather was much better that day, one woman told me. Ahead of Mr Blair's arrival party stalwarts were standing around drinking tea and catching up. Others were already sitting in front of the low stage waiting for Blair and listening to M People and other 1990s hits on the PA. Current MP Phil Wilson arrived with little fanfare and looked a bit nervous ahead of his speech. Quite a few people say they did not know Blair was due to appear. Blairites: Then and now EYEWITNESS By Brian Wheeler, BBC News, in Sedgefield There was a palpable sense of anticipation outside Trimdon Labour club from early morning. The area cordoned off, the police out in force, and a large media pack gathered in the thick fog. This small village has not seen anything like it since their ex-MP made his farewell appearance as prime minister back in 2007. The weather was much better that day, one woman told me. Ahead of Mr Blair's arrival party stalwarts were standing around drinking tea and catching up. Others were already sitting in front of the low stage waiting for Blair and listening to M People and other 1990s hits on the PA. Current MP Phil Wilson arrived with little fanfare and looked a bit nervous ahead of his speech. Quite a few people say they did not know Blair was due to appear. Blairites: Then and now
Newspaper reports have suggested Mr Blair will make several appearances during the campaign, in a strategy endorsed by his successor Gordon Brown.Newspaper reports have suggested Mr Blair will make several appearances during the campaign, in a strategy endorsed by his successor Gordon Brown.
However, he remains a controversial figure after taking the UK to war in Iraq in 2003.However, he remains a controversial figure after taking the UK to war in Iraq in 2003.
Appearing before the Chilcot inquiry into the war in January, Mr Blair said he had no regrets about removing Saddam Hussein from power, saying he was a "monster" and a threat to international peace.Appearing before the Chilcot inquiry into the war in January, Mr Blair said he had no regrets about removing Saddam Hussein from power, saying he was a "monster" and a threat to international peace.
Mr Blair's speech is seeking to rally support for Labour ahead of the start of the election campaign, which Gordon Brown is expected to trigger next week. Mr Blair used his speech to rally support for Labour ahead of the start of the election campaign, which Mr Brown is expected to trigger next week.
He is also likely to attack Conservative leader David Cameron, arguing that the Tories have not undergone the same fundamental change that Labour did under his leadership. He also used it to attack the Conservatives, accusing them of "confusion" over their policies on on Europe, law and order and the NHS.
Although Mr Blair and Mr Brown had an often difficult relationship while they were prime minister and chancellor, the two campaigned alongside each other to secure victories in 1997, 2001 and 2005. "So why the confusion? The benign... explanation is that the policy-makers are confused, not just the policies.
"The less benign one is that one set of policies represents what they believe in; the other what they think they have to say to win.
"That's not a confusion, actually; that's a strategy and the British people deserve to have that strategy exposed before polling day."
David Hill, former Labour communications director, told the BBC he believed Mr Blair would be an asset because he would appeal to key marginal voters.David Hill, former Labour communications director, told the BBC he believed Mr Blair would be an asset because he would appeal to key marginal voters.
'Special appeal''Special appeal'
"There is a significant group of people who voted Labour for the first time in 1997 and continued voting Labour in 2001, and many of them did so again in 2005," he said."There is a significant group of people who voted Labour for the first time in 1997 and continued voting Labour in 2001, and many of them did so again in 2005," he said.
"He has a special appeal to those people and he will be of immense value on the trail if for no other reason.""He has a special appeal to those people and he will be of immense value on the trail if for no other reason."
Mr Hill added: "He wants to come and remind people of New Labour, of the fact that he and Gordon and Peter Mandelson were people who steered this thing which gave Labour such good victories."Mr Hill added: "He wants to come and remind people of New Labour, of the fact that he and Gordon and Peter Mandelson were people who steered this thing which gave Labour such good victories."
Mr Blair has largely steered clear of British politics since leaving office, focusing on his role as a Middle East envoy, the work of his faith foundation and speaking engagements around the world.Mr Blair has largely steered clear of British politics since leaving office, focusing on his role as a Middle East envoy, the work of his faith foundation and speaking engagements around the world.
However, the former prime minister - who is to publish his autobiography in September - has been criticised by opposition MPs for taking on a number of lucrative advisory roles with foreign firms.However, the former prime minister - who is to publish his autobiography in September - has been criticised by opposition MPs for taking on a number of lucrative advisory roles with foreign firms.
Several of Mr Blair's close allies while he was prime minister, such as Business Secretary Lord Mandelson and former communications director Alastair Campbell, are also playing a key role in the campaign.Several of Mr Blair's close allies while he was prime minister, such as Business Secretary Lord Mandelson and former communications director Alastair Campbell, are also playing a key role in the campaign.