Bloomberg TV
- Blair says the UK public will “change their mind” about leaving the EU.
- Former PM says “the immigration people most care about” is from non-EU areas such as Africa and Asia.
- Attacks Prime Minister Theresa May for abusing “the mantle of patriotism.”
- He suggests the Brexit result was “based on imperfect knowledge.”
- Blair says Brexit will lead to break-up of UK.
- Warns it will threaten Northern Ireland peace process.
LONDON — Former Prime Minister Tony Blair called on the British people to “rise up” against a “hard Brexit” and to stop Britain leaving the European Union.
“The people voted without knowledge of the terms of Brexit,” he said at an event in London on Friday.
“As the terms become clear it is their right to change their mind. Our mission is to persuade them to do so.”
He suggested the public was misled about what Brexit would mean and accused Prime Minister Theresa May of pursuing a “Brexit at any cost” that would severely damage the economy and risk the break-up of the United Kingdom.
“This is a government for Brexit, of Brexit, and dominated by Brexit. It is a mono-purpose political entity,” he said.
“Those driving this always wanted a Hard Brexit. Indeed even the term Hard Brexit requires amendment. The policy is now ‘Brexit At Any Cost.'”
Blair on #Brexit: “The decision was based on imperfect knowledge… We need to find a way out from over the cliff’s edge” pic.twitter.com/7Wn5jF8eyc
— Victoria Derbyshire (@VictoriaLIVE) February 17, 2017
He called on his fellow Remainers to “expose relentlessly the actual cost” of leaving the EU and “show how this decision was based on imperfect knowledge which will now become informed knowledge.”
Immigration
Blair said that people would look back at this period of history and wonder why the UK had decided to get rid of EU migrants when they were so “well behaved, paid their taxes, and were a net economic benefit.”
The former PM said it was highly unlikely that EU workers were taking the jobs of the British people and said it was foolish to believe that the reason working class people in the North of England cannot get a job is because “a Polish guy is working as a waiter in London.”
However, he suggested that those who voted Leave will be disappointed when they realise that non-EU migrants, such as those from Africa and Asia, will not be barred from the UK.
“It is immigration which is driving this debate and when we boil that down we reduce it to prevention of a fraction of the overall numbers,” he said.
“There is in some parts of the country a genuine concern about numbers from Europe – real pressures on services and wages.
“But for many people, the core of the immigration question – and one which I fully accept is a substantial issue – is immigration from non-European countries especially when from different cultures in which assimilation and potential security threats can be an issue.”
Denies blame for Brexit
Answering questions from journalists, Blair denied that his decision to allow large-scale migration from the EU, without transitional controls, had led to Brexit.
“I love the fact that they now say Brexit is down to me,” he said laughing.
“I know it’s very convenient for government ministers to say ‘we wouldn’t be doing this if it wasn’t for him’… It’s time for them to take responsibility.”
Blair on #Brexit: “I accept there’s no appetite to rescind but the people voted without knowledge of the terms” pic.twitter.com/e8cDJPgMZK
— Victoria Derbyshire (@VictoriaLIVE) February 17, 2017
NHS
Blair said the public would feel betrayed when they realised that contrary to the claims of the Leave campaign, that promised an extra £350 million ($434 million) for the NHS, Brexit would actually deprive the service of resources and lead to greater privatisation.
“This free market vision would require major re-structuring of the British economy and its tax and welfare system.
“It will not mean more money for the NHS but less; actually it probably means a wholesale rebalancing of our healthcare towards one based on private as much as public provision.”
Corbyn
In a savage attack on the current Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Blair said that Labour were incapable of beating the Tories and described the party as enablers of a “hard Brexit.”
“The debilitation of the Labour party is the facilitator of Brexit. I hate to say that but it is true.”
He lamented the state of the party under Corbyn.
“All of this would be easier if you had a party challenging the government on their position, but that isn’t the case,” he said.
Blair goes for Corbyn. pic.twitter.com/Kuc0QW2wUK
— Paul Waugh (@paulwaugh) February 17, 2017
Reversing Brexit
Blair called on May to bring the option of staying in the EU back onto the table.
“If our government were conducting a negotiation which genuinely sought to advance our country’s interests that negotiation would include the possibility of Britain staying in a reformed Europe,” he said.
“It is clear the settlement which led to Brexit is not confined to the UK. There is widespread yearning for reform across Europe.”
He said that “sufficient understanding” needed to be given to the public about what Brexit means. He also left open the door for a second referendum.
“You could have a second referendum. You could do it in different ways,” he said.
Asked whether he was defying democracy by pushing to stay in the EU, he replied that: “The will of the people is not some immutable thing that can never change.”
“We should have the opportunity to reconsider this decision.”
In a passionate conclusion, Blair added that “this is not the time for retreat, indifference or despair – but the time to rise up in defence of what we believe.”
You can watch highlights from his speech here:
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