Tony Blair has urged Keir Starmer to implement stringent immigration controls to counter the rise of the populist right. The former prime minister emphasized that addressing public grievances while maintaining a centrist approach is crucial for Labour to sustain its electoral coalition.
Blair acknowledged the positive impact of immigration on the UK, contrasting this with the Conservative party’s “mad” policies, which he claims have harmed the economy.
In his first interview since Labour’s victory, Blair also advised Starmer to be realistic about achieving climate goals and suggested that the UK would eventually need to form a “regional grouping” with European neighbors to stay competitive globally.
At the Future of Britain conference in London, hosted by the Tony Blair Institute, Blair will advocate for public sector adoption of artificial intelligence, predicting £12 billion in annual savings by the end of this term.
Blair’s remarks on addressing the radical right’s rise are particularly significant, as Reform UK secured five seats and 14% of the vote in last week’s election. He stressed the importance of understanding and addressing the grievances exploited by populists to cut off their support base.
“Progressives should be thinking about the answers, but you’ve got to understand what the populist does. The populist usually doesn’t invent a grievance, they exploit the grievance. If you want to close off their avenues for increasing support, you’ve got to deal with the grievance. That’s why Keir is absolutely right in saying you’ve got to have controls on immigration,” Blair told the Guardian.
Blair emphasized the benefits of immigration but reiterated the need for control. Starmer, aiming to counter the populist right by improving people’s lives, has redirected funds from the Rwanda scheme to establish the new Border Security Command to tackle illegal migration.
Blair also advised the government to prioritize law and order and be cautious with cultural issues exploited by the right. He believes Labour can maintain its electoral coalition by focusing on centrist policies.
On Europe, Blair, a remain campaigner, supported Starmer’s cautious approach towards a closer relationship post-Brexit, citing the party’s 2019 election defeat. Blair emphasized the necessity for the UK to be part of a political family within Europe in the long term to remain globally relevant against superpowers like America, China, and India.
Blair criticized the Brexit-induced reduction of European migration, calling it “mad” and arguing it led to a reliance on immigration from Asia and Africa instead of young Europeans in hospitality.
Reflecting on Labour’s election win, Blair revealed he stayed up until 1am to follow the results and remains in regular contact with Starmer. “I don’t really offer advice but if he wants to talk about things, we talk about things,” Blair noted.
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