Tony Blair 'Seeks New Role' To Re-Engage In British Political Debate And Join The Fight Against Euroscepticism

Tony Blair 'Seeks New Role' To Re-Engage In British Political Debate And Join The Fight Against Euroscepticism
The Huffington Post UK | By Charlotte Meredith
Posted: 31/05/2014 11:06 BST | Updated: 31/05/2014 11:59 BST

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/05/31/tony-blair-europe-ukip_n_5422562.html?ir=UK+Politics&ref=topbar

Tony Blair is reportedly hoping to re-engage in our country's political debate.

While a shaken Westminster recovers in the wake of last week's Ukip "Earthquake", the former prime minister has apparently announced he is looking for a prominent pan-European role in the fight against euroscepticism.

After the european elections saw a dramatic rise of anti-EU parties across the entire continent, Blair reportedly offered his services in a “pro-European role” during a meeting with Angela Merkel this week.

The longstanding aim of generating an “ever closer union” among the people of Europe has been thrown into severe disarray due to the startling success of far right.

This year is the first time openly neo-Nazi parties will sit in Brussels as representatives of their nations.

So, is Tony set to become the saviour for pro-europeans?

The Financial Times reported that an ally of Blair said that, in his meeting with Merkel, Blair made it clear that he was willing to step up to a high-profile role defending the EU from its increasingly vocal critics.

Blair is known to have angled for the role of president of the European Council in the past, a position currently held by Herman Van Rompuy, who steps down in November.

He has also floated the idea of having a President of Europe directly elected by people across the continent.

The ex-labour leader has already moved to unite the left against the anti-EU right in a blistering tirade against Ukip.

The party does "not have all the answers" and should be exposed for having "no actual solutions to the problems of the 21st century," he argued.

In his strongest attack yet against Nigel Farage, Blair added: "You look underneath that UKIP facade and you see something pretty nasty and unpleasant."

Blair, who is still reviled by many left-wingers over his decision to invade Iraq in 2003, is due to step up his pro-European rhetoric on Monday in a speech which is expected to renew his call for politicians to resist the rise of populism.

Since leaving office in 2007, Blair has lost a lot of the support he once had within Labour ranks. But it has not stopped him from intervening.

And he has warned repeatedly that the Labour Party must not become more eurosceptic or more anti-immigration in response to the threat from Ukip.

Blair even backed the Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg’s highly unpopular pro-European outlook.

But if you are wondering what Ukip's rise would have looked like had it happened on Blair's watch, HuffPost UK readers need look no further than this 2005 video of a clash between the then Labour prime minister and a then relatively-unknown and junior Ukip MEP, Nigel Farage.



In the video, Farage blasted Blair for not curtailing EU legislation, to which the PM replied by calling him a "reactionary".

Blair told him: "You sit with our country's flag, you do not represent our country's interest."

Farage shakes his head and mouths "nonsense" at Blair during the PM's remarks.

What's your problem Blair?
Your EU investments looking a bit shaky or do you think it's time you found another war to send our troops into?

"Blair told him: "You sit with our country's flag, you do not represent our country's interest."

   Well that is rich coming from him. What does he intend to do? tour the UK educating us to the error of our ignorant ways. Have we got enough eggs?

Maybe he should start off in the West Midlands who apparently are the most racist, deprived and uneducated people in the land. Now there's a challenge.

Good luck to him getting them out of their caves, they don't trust politicians, He will also need an interpreter for the grunts.   

There wouldn't be many prepared to sit and listen to his lies without egging him. He's made millions over the bodies of our dead and mutilated servicemen and women the b*****d.

If it was up to me I would have him hung, drawn and quartered. Then his head put on London Bridge on a pike. Or has that been sold to the Americans? Maybe they would let us do it   

They'd probably pay us to do it, although I would do it for free providing Gordon Brown was on a pole next to him..  

Me too Malena. Another gruesome twosome who need bringing to justice.

Hi fuzeta

The question for me is why is Blair sticking his nose in British politics again? Has he not done enough damage to suit him already?

I think it is a case of not having a job now. He doesn't need one he already has more money that he could know what to do with, but that type always wants more. there may be a hidden agenda, in that there may be a plum post waiting for him. he wanted the EU presidents job, that was an open secret. he didn't get it so now he's a Eurosceptic.

He was allegedly Middle East peace envoy, and since he took the job the place has gone up in flames. So what is he doing to earn a crust of bread today?

Then again, I imagine the takings for his after dinner speeches are starting to fall off now, so he needs some more material. It could be that simple. I wouldn't pay to listen to him telling how he committed treason by lying to parliament  

He perhaps wants to push for a Knighthood and elevation into The Lords....

Lord Anthony Charles Lynton Blair of Baghdad Butcher of Britain, has a nice ring to it...

Good evening both, yes it does have a nice ring to it. Goodness knows what he is after? His last two jobs are certainly no reference for him. I do believe that his ego is so great that he actually thinks we all like him.

The thing he does which infuriates me the most is standing at the cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday. How dare he?

Good evening both of you

Yes I believe you may have the rights of it there malena

How about Lord Blair of Bushpoodle?

Peace Envoy extraordinaire
After Dinner speaker par excellence

No job too large, no job to small, all events considered.

Have speech will travel.

fuzeta wrote:Good evening both, yes it does have a nice ring to it.  Goodness knows what he is after?  His last two jobs are certainly no reference for him.    I do believe that his ego is so great that he actually thinks we all like him.

The thing he does which infuriates me the most is standing at the cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday. How dare he?

He's silently praying at the Cenotaph for forgiveness from the souls of our service personnel who he needlessly sent to be killed in foreign wars in which we should never have been involved. To my mind he changed his religion to enable him an access for confessional and atonmet for his sins.

katertaif wrote:Good evening both of you

Yes I believe you may have the rights of it there malena

How about Lord Blair of Bushpoodle?

Peace Envoy extraordinaire
After Dinner speaker par excellence

No job too large, no job to small, all events considered.

Have speech will travel.

He would never be satisfied with becoming a mere Knight katertaif..... He'd likely demand to be crowned King instead.

Good morning malena

Yes I agree.

I heard that at the weekly meetings, Cameron told the queen he was worried about Blair.

Oh, asked the Queen, what's he been up to now?

Well to tell you the truth, your Majesty, I think he's after my job.

Thank goodness for that said the Queen, I thought the feller was after mine.

Love it