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Tony Blair says Labour 'left-wing' warning 'misinterpreted' Tony Blair says Labour 'left-wing' warning 'misinterpreted'
(about 1 hour later)
Tony Blair has insisted he is fully behind Ed Miliband despite appearing to suggest Labour risks being too left-wing to win the general election.Tony Blair has insisted he is fully behind Ed Miliband despite appearing to suggest Labour risks being too left-wing to win the general election.
The former prime minister told the Economist May's poll could become one "in which a traditional left-wing party competes with a traditional right-wing party, with the traditional result".The former prime minister told the Economist May's poll could become one "in which a traditional left-wing party competes with a traditional right-wing party, with the traditional result".
Asked if he meant a Conservative win, Mr Blair replied: "Yes."Asked if he meant a Conservative win, Mr Blair replied: "Yes."
He later said he expected a Labour victory and had been "misinterpreted".He later said he expected a Labour victory and had been "misinterpreted".
Mr Miliband has maintained that Labour can regain power in 2015, telling activists in his new year message that "we have the power to bring about the change working families all over Britain need".Mr Miliband has maintained that Labour can regain power in 2015, telling activists in his new year message that "we have the power to bring about the change working families all over Britain need".
But Mr Blair, the last Labour leader to win a UK general election in 2005, told the Economist that he was "convinced the Labour Party succeeds best when it is in the centre ground".
'Centre ground''Centre ground'
But Mr Blair, the last Labour leader to win a UK general election in 2005, told the Economist he was "convinced the Labour Party succeeds best when it is in the centre ground".
Stressing the importance of Labour "not alienating large parts of business, for one thing", he added: "I am still very much New Labour and Ed would not describe himself in that way, so there is obviously a difference there."Stressing the importance of Labour "not alienating large parts of business, for one thing", he added: "I am still very much New Labour and Ed would not describe himself in that way, so there is obviously a difference there."
BBC political correspondent Ross Hawkins said the comments "appear to make clearer than ever the gap between Mr Miliband and Mr Blair". Analysis
Robin Brant, political correspondent, BBC News
The quote from the Economist is not crystal clear. In fact it appears to be a partial sentence, in which Tony Blair repeats his view about how the general election appears to be shaping up.
Except this time it looks like it is his view, not just the one he ascribed to the media back in October.
That distinction is crucial to the claims that this represents criticism of Ed Miliband because the former prime minister doesn't believe that on the traditional left is where Labour should be or where it can win an election from.
And to anyone still not sure, he rammed home that message by saying he is still "very much New Labour", before adding there is "obviously a difference there" with the current Labour leader.
Further and perhaps more significant evidence of disagreement with where Ed Miliband has taken the party can be found when Mr Blair says "not alienating large parts of business" is a key lesson he learned from his three election wins. Remember the current leader's attack in 2011 on predatory practices by some firms.
Mr Blair won three consecutive elections for Labour after modernising the party, before standing down to be replaced by Gordon Brown.Mr Blair won three consecutive elections for Labour after modernising the party, before standing down to be replaced by Gordon Brown.
He also questioned Mr Miliband's claim that the financial crash in 2007/8 and subsequent economic problems had shifted the UK's political centre ground towards the left.He also questioned Mr Miliband's claim that the financial crash in 2007/8 and subsequent economic problems had shifted the UK's political centre ground towards the left.
"I see no evidence for that," Mr Blair said. "You could argue that it has moved to the right, not left.""I see no evidence for that," Mr Blair said. "You could argue that it has moved to the right, not left."
Mr Blair subsequently issued a short statement on Twitter: "My remarks have been mis-interpreted, I fully support Ed and my party and expect a Labour victory in the election."Mr Blair subsequently issued a short statement on Twitter: "My remarks have been mis-interpreted, I fully support Ed and my party and expect a Labour victory in the election."
'Concrete plan''Concrete plan'
Following newspaper reports in October alleging Mr Blair doubted Labour's chances of victory, the former prime minister insisted that Ed Miliband "can and will win the next election".Following newspaper reports in October alleging Mr Blair doubted Labour's chances of victory, the former prime minister insisted that Ed Miliband "can and will win the next election".
Mr Miliband has in recent months committed his party to freezing energy prices, reinstating the 50p top rate of income tax and introducing a levy on properties worth more than £2m dubbed the "mansion tax". But Paul Kenny, leader of the GMB union, said Mr Blair was "disconnected" from the lives of the people that Labour represented.
"Tony Blair is now a very wealthy person sitting on top of the pile," he said.
"It is sad and disappointing that a very wealthy man like Tony Blair, given his background in the Labour movement, opposes measures to close the widening and now unacceptable inequality gap between those at the top and the rest in our society."
Mr Miliband has in recent times committed his party to freezing energy prices, reinstating the 50p top rate of income tax and introducing a levy on properties worth more than £2m dubbed the "mansion tax".
In his traditional end-of-year message, the Labour leader said his party would reveal further plans to raise wages, establish "fair rules for immigration" and "rescue our NHS" in the run-up to the 7 May poll.In his traditional end-of-year message, the Labour leader said his party would reveal further plans to raise wages, establish "fair rules for immigration" and "rescue our NHS" in the run-up to the 7 May poll.
Although warning that change would not be "easy or instant", he said a future Labour government could "build a country that works for everyday people".Although warning that change would not be "easy or instant", he said a future Labour government could "build a country that works for everyday people".
"This isn't about idle dreams or empty promises," he said. "It's about a real, concrete plan: a plan for a recovery which reaches your kitchen table.""This isn't about idle dreams or empty promises," he said. "It's about a real, concrete plan: a plan for a recovery which reaches your kitchen table."