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| Tony Blair: 'Ed Miliband will lose 2015 general election - he can't beat David Cameron' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Tony Blair has reportedly written off Ed Miliband’s chances of winning the next election because Labour has failed to persuade the country it is fit to govern. | Tony Blair has reportedly written off Ed Miliband’s chances of winning the next election because Labour has failed to persuade the country it is fit to govern. |
| In the conversation, recounted to the Daily Telegraph, the former Prime Minister said that under Mr Miliband the party has failed to develop a “narrative that is about the future of the country”. | |
| Mr Blair was said to have made the forecast in a private conversation with political allies in July. | Mr Blair was said to have made the forecast in a private conversation with political allies in July. |
| “The Conservatives will be the next government because Labour has failed to make a good case for itself. That is what Tony thinks. He does not think that Miliband can beat Cameron,” a source told the paper. | “The Conservatives will be the next government because Labour has failed to make a good case for itself. That is what Tony thinks. He does not think that Miliband can beat Cameron,” a source told the paper. |
| There is reportedly unease within the Labour Party about Mr Miliband's ability to convince traditional voters The report increases pressure on Mr Miliband, who has faced criticism recently of his performance, especially the failure to enthuse traditional voters. | |
| Losses of support have been felt in Scotland, with the SNP winning over supposedly core voters, while in England there are fears Ukip could damage Labour almost as much as the Conservatives. | |
| Mr Blair’s office moved to deny he had dismissed Mr Miliband’s chances. A spokesman said: “He wants and hopes to see a Labour victory and believes Labour can indeed win and under Ed's leadership.” | Mr Blair’s office moved to deny he had dismissed Mr Miliband’s chances. A spokesman said: “He wants and hopes to see a Labour victory and believes Labour can indeed win and under Ed's leadership.” |
| But it is not the first time he has spoken out about his successor's leadership. In July, while celebrating the 20th anniversary of becoming Labour leader, he professed his loyalty to Mr Miliband but made a series of barely-coded criticisms of his strategy. | But it is not the first time he has spoken out about his successor's leadership. In July, while celebrating the 20th anniversary of becoming Labour leader, he professed his loyalty to Mr Miliband but made a series of barely-coded criticisms of his strategy. |
| He urged Mr Miliband not to revert to a left-wing “comfort zone” based on top-down state solutions, saying that Labour should mend fences with business and occupy the political centre ground. | He urged Mr Miliband not to revert to a left-wing “comfort zone” based on top-down state solutions, saying that Labour should mend fences with business and occupy the political centre ground. |
| Asked what advice he would give Labour on how to win the election, Mr Blair replied: “We have some good policy ideas. We should be building them into a narrative that is about the future the country, the opportunities available to people, the challenges… if we do that with confidence, we can win.” | Asked what advice he would give Labour on how to win the election, Mr Blair replied: “We have some good policy ideas. We should be building them into a narrative that is about the future the country, the opportunities available to people, the challenges… if we do that with confidence, we can win.” |
| But the current Opposition leader has made his feelings about New Labour clear, saying the party had "moved on". | But the current Opposition leader has made his feelings about New Labour clear, saying the party had "moved on". |