Labour has 'no coherent plan' for country, says Blair

Sir Tony Blair accused Sir Keir Starmer’s government of lacking a coherent plan for the country and of introducing policies that have held back business. He singled out new workers’ rights laws, the phasing out of the British oil and gas industry, and above-inflation increases to the minimum wage. He warned that changing leaders would be irrelevant if it did not begin with a policy debate. Downing Street declined to comment before publication and said Sir Keir is focused on delivering change for working people. The government pointed to cost-of-living measures, economic growth before the Iran conflict, falling NHS waiting lists, migration progress, and reductions in serious violent crime, while stating more work remains.

"Sir Tony Blair has accused Sir Keir Starmer's government of having no "coherent plan" for the country and introducing policies that have held back business. In a highly critical essay, the former Labour PM singled out measures including new workers' rights laws, the phasing out of the British oil and gas industry and the above-inflation uplift to the minimum wage. However, he warned that whether there was a change of leader was "irrelevant if it doesn't start with a policy debate"."

"The government's "principal problem" was not "Keir's personality" or "a failure to communicate 'our achievements'", which have often been pointed to as weaknesses of the PM. He wrote: "It is because we don't have a worked-out coherent plan for the country in a fast-changing world and are in the wrong political position from which we can devise one and win a second term"."

"However, he added: "Trying to force the prime minister out before we know what policy direction we're bringing in, is not a serious way of conducting ourselves." While Sir Tony said he agreed with some of the government's policies, the critique focused on the absence of a worked-out coherent plan and the political conditions needed to secure a second term."

"A spokeswoman pointed to measures aimed at easing the cost of living, with the economy growing before the Iran conflict broke out, as well as falling NHS waiting lists, migration and serious violent crime. She added: "But there's obviously much more to do, and we are getting on with that job.""

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