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Tony Blair in political return to campaign for Gordon Brown
27 Jan 2010Tony Blair will stage his first return to the British political battle since stepping down as Prime Minister to campaign for Labour in the upcoming general election, his close ally Lord Mandelson said today.
Lord Mandelson said that Mr Blair - who has observed a vow of silence on British politics since quitting Downing Street in 2007 - would be one of a number of faces from the early days of New Labour to fight for victory for Gordon Brown.
Although he accepted that he would not bet on a Labour win now, the Business Secretary insisted it was "not too late" for the party to turn the polls around and predicted that Conservative leader David Cameron could be "in for a shock".
Speaking to the Daily Mirror shortly after provisional figures showed Britain was out of recession, Lord Mandelson also predicted that the wafer-thin 0.1% growth in GDP for the third quarter of 2009 will be revised upwards as the Office for National Statistics gets more data.
"The figures published will be revised later on and they will show that growth is slightly stronger than the top-line figures suggest," he said.
Mr Blair is Labour's most successful leader ever in electoral terms, having won three successive polls including the record-breaking landslide of 1997, and his presence by Mr Brown's side could give the party a boost.
But his appearance on Friday before the Chilcot Inquiry will remind voters of his role in the divisive decision to go to war in Iraq, and Conservatives are likely to claim his participation in the campaign as a sign that Labour is stuck in the past.
Lord Mandelson told the newspaper: "We want all the party's leadership - past and present - to be contributing to our electoral success.
"They know as well as everyone what is at stake for the country.
"Everyone will get stuck in. Everyone will campaign: Tony Blair, John Prescott, David Blunkett. We need the support of these well-known faces."
Asked whether Labour would win the general election, Lord Mandelson admitted: "I wouldn't put money on it at this stage."
But he added: "We haven't yet won the general election but nor have we yet lost it.
"If we play our cards correctly, if we continue to make the right judgment calls on the economy, if we demonstrate both our commitment to maintaining front-line services and also show how we are going to pay for those services - and also if we continue to back the opportunities that families want - we are in with a very good chance of being returned."
The Business Secretary compared the 2010 election - which must take place by June 3 - to 1992, when John Major's Tory administration scraped to victory after trailing Labour in the polls for months.
Many observers put that result down to last-minute doubts among voters over whether they really wanted Neil Kinnock as Prime Minister.
Lord Mandelson said that voters may be disillusioned with politicians generally and feel that it is time for a change, but they have not yet thought clearly about whether they want Mr Cameron to take charge.
"I think those like David Cameron who think all they need to do is sit back, say little and wait for power to be passed to them on a plate will be in for a shock," he said.
"As we approach a general election people will be considering again and more deeply where their interests lie, where their values lie and what the future offers are that have been made by the parties."
Reader views (36)
Truth is labour aint good to be fair.
but i cant afford the tories not again.
i dont think central and north england can either.
- Neil, west midlands, 09/02/2010 13:34
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Well it appears unlike the Tories Labour does not feel a need to airbrush itself like Cam the sham does. Talking of which I think those posters show Cameron as even more wooden than "Pinnochio Redwood was!".
As for saying Peter Mandleson is James Bond I would have thought he was more like Captain Jack Harness of Torchwood given the way he comes back to life!!
While Gordon is like Captain Kirk taken Labour to a 4th Successive government which is somewhere Labour has never been before!!
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 28/01/2010 12:15
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Persona non grata just about sums up how Blair is regarded in this country.
Tony Blair is to politics what Fred Goodwin is to banking.
- Luke Comer, York, 27/01/2010 14:40
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Nobby Clark,-priceless just priceless..your wasted on here fella lol.
- Jacob, Kommunist Kent EUSSR, 27/01/2010 14:19
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Ha! You couldn't make it up could you?!
Two-Jags Prescott, Blundering Blunkett and Teflon Bliar coming to "help" Brown and Nu-Liebour with the election???
Two words : Death and Wish spring to mind.
These three greedy,incompetent and disgraced politicians only serve to remind us of what a shambolic, nasty, champagne-socialist bullies Nu-Liebour really are.
I am delighted to hear this news today though, as it helps to guarantee that Gutless Brown and the evil NuLabour experiment will be forever consigned to rot in the dustbin of history after May 6th.
- Dan, Londongrad,EUSSR, (Formerly Great) Britain, 27/01/2010 12:37
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Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain
Isn't telling that one of the few people that consistently defends the bloated Nu Lab Socialist plutocrats that have lined their own pockets and steadily destroyed the quality of life in this country - lives abroad. Leaving the rest of us to endure the worst government in modern history.
- Ricky, Hackney, London, 27/01/2010 12:35
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Tony Blair holds the achievement of being the prime minister elected with the least votes of any winning party leader since the 1920s. In 2005 he won with less votes than John Major lost with in 1997 or Neil Kinnock lost with in 1987 or 1992. The only reason he was PM for more than one term was the dire state the Tories were in. The idea that he is some sort of political titan is laughable.
- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent, 27/01/2010 12:35
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It's ok to bash Labour, I am not a supporter and I couldn't give a monkeys about the personalities. What really matters beyond all the headlines and soundbites is - what are the Conservatives actually going to do to get this nation back to work and reduce the crippling taxes we are paying? The banks have been naughty but they run this country. 25% of the UK GDP is created in the City, and the bandwagoners who are jumping on forget these facts. Come on Tories, show us your manifesto, and make it plausible.
- Rod, Epping, UK, 27/01/2010 12:25
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#Janet, London
The report also stated, if you take the trouble to read it, that the Conservative government should accept a large part of the responsibility for the position we are now in as a result of their policies in the 80s and 90s. It is easy to point the finger of blame when you are selective in choosing which parts of the report suit your argument, and ignoring those that do not.
- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain, 27/01/2010 12:11
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Mandy says "Everyone will campaign: Tony Blair, John Prescott, David Blunkett"
This from the twice-sacked, unelected Lord of Spin.
Tony Blair: multi-millionaire ex-Leader of the party with more blood on his hands than a heart surgeon.
John Prescott: slugger and philanderer who prefers to let his fists do the talking and whose only completed project in power was the much-hated M4 bus lane.
David Blunkett: yet another who left office in disgrace after an affair. Also delivered little when a minister.
Who else? Jacqui "Bath Plug and Porn" Smith, Geoff "Couldn't organise a coup in the Commons" Hoon, Michael "speaking is not my forte" Martin, Alan "Need to spend time with my family but in reality I am useless" Milburn?
If Brown and the Labour Party need to depend on friends like that to get them re-elected, Mrs Cameron can get straight down to Laura Ashley's curtain department with the tape measure.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one, 27/01/2010 12:07
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"As we approach a general election people will be considering again and more deeply where their interests lie, where their values lie and what the future offers are that have been made by the parties." Considering the expenses scandals, the increases they award themselves and the way they seem to think the general populas are all idiots, they will be very lucky if anyone shows up at a polling station at all!!
- Sue, Kent, 27/01/2010 12:06
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He is the Kiss of Death, Bye bye Labour.
- David, Fleet Hampshire, 27/01/2010 11:58
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We know that they can't stand each other, but this takes the biscuit! Tony campaigning for Brown? It has to be the best sabotage strategy ever! I wouldn't vote for Mother Teresa if Tony Blair campaigned for her... Is David Cameron paying him? Greedy Blairs will do anything for money.
- Beatriz, London, 27/01/2010 11:58
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Oh, you mean Tony "We're all Middle Class now" Blair. And on the very day that the gap between the rich and poor has been announced as being the widest since the Second World War. I can hear the cries now of "Liar, liar" your pants are on fire. I expect when Labour have lost the election and they have to sell Labour Party HQ because the party is so broke, they'll sell it to Mr & Mrs Blair.
- Janet, London, UK, 27/01/2010 11:26
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Oh my Tony Bliar campaigning for Gordon Brown. Gordon, can you afford his personal appearance fees?
- Patricia, LONDON, 27/01/2010 11:23
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Blair will probably claim that Brown's plans to address the fiscal deficit can be launched within 45 minutes.
- Andrew, Hampton Hill, 27/01/2010 11:17
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Let me get this right; Mandy says; if we continue to make the right judgment calls on the economy?
Let me also get this right; having won three successive polls including the record-breaking landslide of 1997, and his presence [Tony Blair] by Mr Brown's side could give the party a boost?
Let me also get this right; Mandy is also calling in the big guns, to shoot The Tories out of the water?
Top Gun Millionaire: Tony Blair?
Tubby Two Jags: John Prescott?
David Blunkett? I decline to comment on him, out of respect for his condition.
Quote, Mandy: "If we play our cards correctly, ‘’if’’ we continue to make the right judgment calls on the economy, ‘’if’’ we demonstrate both our commitment to maintaining front-line services and also show how we are going to pay for those services - and also ‘’if’’ we continue to back the opportunities that families want - we are in with a very good chance of being returned."
You seem to love the world ‘’IF’’ Mandy.
Well dear Mandy; if only pigs could fly; we would need more helicopters than the army has, to shoot our bacon down.
What a rich dreamer you are Mandy, but there you go; you are all rich now; thanks to the taxpayer, and business, and not due to honest graft, for an honest days pay, many would say?
‘’IF’’ the voters are still suckers; you will win; but; ‘’IF’’ they are not, you will lose by a landslide.
‘’IF’’ is a word Mandy; that normally means, you are in desperation of hope, against all the odds?
- Mickinlondon, london, 27/01/2010 11:05
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LOL
What a prize prat, is he working for david cameron on the quiet?
As John C Leatherhead put :- Death Wish.
- P Staker, London, 27/01/2010 10:59
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So the Kinnochio is to be exhumed..... is Michael Foot still alive? Callaghan? Why not get Mary Wilson to say a few words?
Gosh, this is going to be as exciting as watching re-runs of EastEnders!
- Ex-Pat David, Cape Town, South Africa, 27/01/2010 10:54
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despite all the anti Blair postings, if you can put policy aside, truth is he was a brilliant politician just like Maggie. Winning three elections on the trot and the last in middle of hugely unpopular war, changing the face of the Tories who moved radically to the centre to survive - is an achievement that will not be repeated for a long time..
though I don't believe he is brilliant enough to save Brown, nor would I really think in his heart he wants to...
- Martin_Clerkenwell, london, 27/01/2010 10:53
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How much is Prudence Brown paying Our Tony for each appearance, I thought the Labour Party was short of funds.
- Shallotman, Basildon, 27/01/2010 10:50
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re Dick, London. Did you mean a lot of lies, not a few lies?
- Peter, Hertford, 27/01/2010 10:46
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Which is the party for millionaire public school Toffs?
- Dave B, Beckenham, 27/01/2010 10:23
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Is Gordie really that inept that he doesn't realise Tone will be shown to be a complete loser/fraud this week - oh yeah look what he's "achieved" in the last couple of years!
- David, soton, 27/01/2010 10:15
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Death Wish!!
- John C, Leatherhead, UK, 27/01/2010 09:54
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Great news as now the conservatives are sure to win!!
- Chloe, london uk, 27/01/2010 09:40
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I assume Tony will be starting his campaign by telling a few liars to Chilcot on Friday!
This is wonderful news for Tories!!
- Dick, London, 27/01/2010 09:34
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Genius! Gordons already the most incompetent chancellor and prime minister in history, now he has too beg assistance from someone who's entire family are personanongrata in their own country.
It is indeed time for a change.
- Stew, London, 27/01/2010 09:29
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Of course he's getting behind the party. He wants the party to get behind him these days.
The curtain is being pulled aside to reveal all the deviations and murky decisions and developments which led this country into a war. The present worldwide reverberations of those decisions Britons are living with, and dying with, today.
- Michael, London, 27/01/2010 09:23
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Only in the "mirror" could you get a story such as this. If nuliebor think that having people such as bliar,prescott,blunkett, uncle tom cobbley and all campaigning for brown in the upcoming election is what they need that's their choice. It seems to me that this really puts the feeling that they have a self inflicted death wish right to the top of the list. Are the hoi polloi really going to give them another chance, I don't think so !! You watch they will promise you the earth but they will not tell you how on earth that us the taxpayers are ever going to repay the gargantuan amount of monies the government have borrowed. Roll on the election so they can be put out of their misery !!
- John.W, canterbury, east kent, 27/01/2010 09:19
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Can't wait to see the Sun headline the day before election day.I remember well the Kinnock light bulb.Hilarious!
- Alan., Wimbledon, 27/01/2010 09:16
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Blair (the Smirking Chancer) - the biggest political scoundrel in the last 100 years of British politics - is stepping up to the plate to assist Jonah Brown in his pathetic campaign to be actually elected by us as our Prime Minister.
Wonderful news! Tories to win by historic landslide.
- Ricky, Hackney, London, 27/01/2010 08:48
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The only shock David Cameron will be in with TB campaigning for NULabour will be the size of the tory majority. Bet DC cannot believe his luck with Thumper Prescott and the Noveau Riche Blairs campaigning for NuLabour. All we want are the titled Kinnocks to join the fray and DCs majority will be in treble figures.
The tories campaign mantra, "time for change," will resonate even more with the electorate. I think NuLabour have shot themselves in the foot.
- Brian G, Norfolk Gorleston, 27/01/2010 08:36
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Poor Gordon, as if he didn't have enough to worry about!
- Andy, London, 27/01/2010 08:36
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LOL! He'll be boo'd off the stage
- Sarah, London, 27/01/2010 08:32
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Millionaire Blair telling us to vote Labour! I don't think so.
- Tojo, Hythe, 27/01/2010 08:22
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