Tony Blair launches extraordinary attack on Keir Starmer
Former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair has made an extraordinary intervention by slamming current Labour leader Keir Starmer as having no 'coherent plan for Britain.' In a 5,000-word essay, Blair accused Starmer of introducing policies that hold back businesses, particularly citing the phasing out of British oil and gas and new workers' rights laws as detrimental to UK business owners.
Blair warned that a change of leader was 'irrelevant' if the party did not engage in a policy debate. In response, Treasury minister Dan Tomlinson said the government was making 'big steps' to fundamentally change the country and was getting on with the job of governing.
By-election context
The essay comes as Labour faces a consequential by-election in Makerfield. Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is seeking a return to No10 by winning the seat, though he faces stiff competition from Reform. Burnham is also seen as a potential Labour leadership contender amid calls for Starmer to step down. Labour's immediate future could be decided when voters head to the polls on Thursday, June 18.
Tomlinson disputed Blair's framing of Labour's challenges, telling Times Radio: 'He's right that we shouldn't descend into a contest of personalities. We need to focus on the issues and the substance. ... What this Government is doing is getting on with the job of confronting the problems facing people in modern Britain.'
