Thursday 30 June 2022 05:57 PM Sir Tony Blair admits Brexit is not going to be reversed 'any time soon' at ... trends now
Sir Tony Blair today admitted Brexit was not going to be reversed 'any time soon' as he hosted an 'ideas conference' - dubbed 'Blairfest' - in central London.
The former Labour prime minister - a fierce opponent of the UK's departure from the EU and among those who pushed for a second referendum - acknowledged the debate had now been settled.
But he cited Brexit as one of the current challenges facing the UK, adding: 'The stuff in Northern Ireland is doing us damage.'
Sir Tony denied that his 'Future of Britain' conference was the precursor to setting up a new political vehicle for himself, despite frequent rumours that he could try and lead a new 'centrist' movement.
He said: 'You've got two main political parties, I don't see that changing.'
Delivering a keynote address at the conference this afternoon, the former premier praised Sir Keir Starmer's 'amazing' job in reforming Labour after taking over from Jeremy Corbyn.
But, speaking to former BBC correspondent Jon Sopel, he warned that Sir Keir still needed to 'seal the deal' with British voters before he could win a general election.
Sir Tony, 69, stepped up pressure on the Labour leader to set out his policy agenda and suggested Sir Keir adopt some of the 'progressive' ideas his guests had been debating today.
He added that those who voted for the Liberal Democrats at the recent by-election in Tiverton and Honiton - which dealt a fresh blow to Boris Johnson's leadership - needed to feel comfortable with the prospect of a Labour government ahead of the next Westminster contest.
But Sir Tony played down suggestions of a 'non-aggression pact' being struck between Labour and the Lib Dems ahead of the general election.
With many predicting a some form of Labour-Lib Dem coalition if the next election results in a hung Parliament, he said: 'The party that is going to be the party dominating the government has got to be electable in its own right.'
He admitted there was a 'big struggle' for centrist politics, but pointed to the victory of Joe Biden in the US as offering hope.
'Does that mean the fight is over? No. But it means it is not a hopeless fight,' Sir Tony added.
Sir Tony Blair hosted a 'Future of Britain' conference in central London, with the former PM warning the UK is currently facing problems 'every bit as serious' as the post-War period
Sir Tony insisted Labour had 'recovered its basic poise and clarity' under Sir Keir Starmer's leadership. But the ex-PM stepped up pressure on the Labour leader to set out his policies
Other figures to have been invited to Sir Tony's 'ideas conference' include ex-Tory Cabinet ministers Rory Stewart and David Gauke
The ex-premier had earlier warned that 'a new politics and new policies' were needed, saying the UK is currently facing problems 'every bit as serious' as the post-War period.
Those invited to his conference included ex-Tory Cabinet ministers Rory Stewart - a former leadership candidate - and David Gauke, as well as Conservative peer Baroness Ruth Davidson and Labour MP Peter Kyle - a member of Sir Keir's shadow cabinet.
Welcoming guests this morning, Mr Blair said: 'This is not a new party. But it is about a new politics and the new policies which we need to make sure that any agenda we have works and endures for the future.
'And the context is simple and stark. Britain faces challenges that are unprecedented in recent times.
'Some like the technology revolution, and achieving net zero we share with other nations. Some, like Brexit are unique to
