Tony Blair tells Starmer and rivals: abandon net zero and move closer to Trump

Keir Starmer, Andy Burnham, and Wes Streeting are accused of putting Labour’s future at risk by moving away from the centre ground. A former Labour prime minister warns that Labour’s capacity for self-delusion makes losing the next election likely. He calls for cracking down on welfare spending, abandoning restrictions on oil and gas, and improving relations with Donald Trump. He argues that forcing a leadership change before a clear policy direction is set is not a serious approach. He criticises ideas to move left while losing seats to the right and warns that doing so in government is dangerous. He also highlights vote-splitting effects on the left and criticises Starmer’s approach to the US war with Iran.

"The Labour party is playing with fire; or, more accurately with its future, and that of the country. Whether there is a leadership change or not is irrelevant if it doesn't start with a policy debate. 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."

"Blair argued for the government to crack down on welfare spending, abandon restrictions on oil and gas and smooth relations with Donald Trump. His essay, a highly unusual intervention for a past Labour prime minister, is likely to draw a furious response from across the party, where Blair's legacy remains highly contentious."

"He said it was a perennial delusion that the party should move left while losing seats to the right, saying it was dangerous to do it in government. While Labour is likely to lose many more seats to Reform than the Greens in a general election, most analysts of the recent local elections suggest that it loses four times as many votes to the Greens, splitting the left-leaning vote."

"Blair also suggested it was a mistake for others in the party to seek to remove Starmer as prime minister, saying: The Labour party is playing with fire; or, more accurately with its future, and that of the country. Whether there is a leadership change or not is irrelevant if it doesn't start with a policy debate."

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