Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair has delivered a stark warning to Labour, accusing Sir Keir Starmer’s government of lacking a clear strategy for Britain and drifting into what he described as an outdated Left-wing approach centred on higher taxes, rising welfare spending and heavier regulation.
The intervention, made in a lengthy essay published on Tuesday night, is the strongest criticism Sir Tony has directed at Labour since the party returned to power. His comments arrive at a turbulent moment for the Government, with growing unrest among MPs and mounting speculation over future leadership battles.
Sir Tony argued Labour’s difficulties could not simply be blamed on presentation or personality, insisting the deeper issue was the absence of a long-term plan for governing Britain in a changing global economy. He said the party had settled into a “soft-Left” position that may satisfy activists but risks alienating voters.
The former Labour leader also warned against any attempt to push the party further to the Left if Sir Keir’s position weakens. His remarks are likely to be interpreted as a veiled criticism of Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, who is expected to mount a leadership bid if he returns to Parliament through the Makerfield by-election next month.
Former health secretary Wes Streeting is also reported to be considering a challenge, while figures on Labour’s hard-Left are discussing whether to back a separate candidate.
A large section of Sir Tony’s critique focused on welfare policy. He criticised the Government’s decision to retreat from planned reforms to disability benefits after pressure from Left-wing Labour MPs, arguing the current system discourages work and is becoming financially unsustainable.
He warned that spending on incapacity and disability payments could overtake defence spending before the end of the decade, questioning how ministers could continue increasing taxes to support rising welfare costs.
Sir Tony also raised concerns about several of Labour’s major domestic policies, including Angela Rayner’s workers’ rights proposals and Ed Miliband’s green agenda, claiming both had increased pressure on businesses and weakened economic growth.
In broadcast interviews on Wednesday morning, the former prime minister intensified his criticism of Labour’s environmental strategy, suggesting the Government should reconsider net zero commitments and review expensive climate policies.
Speaking to Times Radio, Sir Tony argued Britain was responsible for less than one per cent of global emissions and said there was little justification for imposing major costs on households and companies while competitors abroad faced fewer restrictions.
He also questioned whether long-term commitments such as the pensions triple lock could continue to be funded, calling for what he described as a more honest national debate about public spending.
On foreign policy, Sir Tony criticised the Government’s decision not to allow American forces to use RAF bases during strikes linked to Iran, and called for closer cooperation with the United States. He also urged ministers to adopt tougher measures to tackle illegal migration and Channel crossings.
Despite his criticism of Sir Keir, Sir Tony insisted replacing the Prime Minister without agreeing a new direction for the party would achieve little.
He said any leadership contest should begin with a wider argument about policy rather than personalities.
The former prime minister also rejected calls from some Labour figures to reopen the Brexit debate, saying rejoining the European Union would not solve the country’s immediate economic problems.
Sir Tony later took aim at Mr Burnham’s claim that Britain had spent four decades moving in the wrong direction, arguing it ignored both the economic changes under Margaret Thatcher and the achievements of New Labour governments.
Downing Street responded by insisting Sir Keir remained focused on delivering results, pointing to falling NHS waiting lists, lower violent crime and improving economic growth before the recent conflict involving Iran.
But Sir Tony’s intervention is likely to deepen divisions inside Labour at a time when pressure is already building over the Government’s direction, economic strategy and electoral future.
