Patrick Minford suggested former Prime Minister Tony Blair contributed to the Brexit vote with his decision not to fall in line with other EU member states and regulate migration from new bloc members. During Mr Blair’s tenure, the European Union extended freedom of movement rights to 10 new member states in what is to date the largest single extension of the union. The Brexiteer economist argued the British Prime Minister failed to create an appropriate migration policy in a deliberate bid to lure EU newcomers into the Labour Party.
Speaking at an Economist for Free Trade event, Prof Minford said: “The Blair Government let in all people from Eastern Europe straight away and this was a terrible mistake.
“It certainly was a contributing factor to the Brexit debate. There’s not much more to be said other than Blair should not have done this and he was crazy to do it. He had an agenda.”
When the EU expanded in 2004, the British Government opted to institute welfare restriction while other countries such as Germany required workers relocating to the country to obtain a work permit.
France only allowed certain groups, including students and researchers, to enter the country freely while workers faced five years of restrictions.
READ MORE: We MUST control immigration and its costs both economic and social
Brexit news: Mr Minford suggested Tony Blair partially caused Brexit (Image: EFT•ITV)
Prof Minford continued: “The reason he did it was he thought they would all be
