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Tony Blair handed key Labour role to win floating voters
Geordie Greig and Paul Waugh5 Feb 2010
Tony Blair is to be given a “major role” in the Labour's general election campaign as the party reunites to fend off the Tory challenge, Gordon Brown has revealed.
In an interview with the Evening Standard, the Prime Minister confirmed for the first time that Mr Blair would appear on the campaign trail in the bid for an historic fourth term.
Mr Brown, who has previously refused to be drawn on the issue, made clear that his predecessor and other former “big beasts” in Labour cabinets would be brought back as a powerful reminder of New Labour's successes.
Many Tories were privately impressed by Mr Blair's recent performance before the Chilcot inquiry, as he made the case for tough military action against terrorists, Iraq and Iran.
“Tony has a major role to play in the election. We are party that is renewing itself after 10 very successful years,” Mr Brown said.
“I think you will find that many people in Labour who are no longer in government but who have been part of the project' for years will have a role. Tony will have to explain, when he wishes, what he can do.”
Mr Brown's use of the phrase “major role” suggests Mr Blair will not simply turn up to the odd photocall and will instead be used to rally crucial floating voters in key Middle England marginals.
Relations between the two men have warmed significantly in recent weeks as Mr Brown defended Mr Blair's actions in Iraq, something he is set to do in his own appearance before the Chilcot inquiry.
The Prime Minister, who last month paid tribute to “my friend, Tony Blair”, talks regularly to his predecessor and they recently discussed election strategy.
However, Mr Blair's premiership was dogged by the “TB-GB” feuds between his allies and those of the then chancellor Mr Brown.
Former deputy prime minister John Prescott has told how he was called in on many occasions to defuse rows after relations between the two men had hit breaking point.
Blairites accused Mr Brown's allies of seeking to topple the then prime minister. Mr Brown is said to have felt that Mr Blair reneged on an alleged promise to hand over the Labour leadership to him rather than carry on until he had won three terms in office.
Mr Blair is believed to have told Mr Brown to stop his supporters plotting against him
and to have considered axing him as chancellor.
Away from his plans on electioneering, Mr Brown made clear that the biggest judgment call of his political life came on 7 October 2008, when the Government drafted emergency plans to save Britain's banks from collapse.
Some £37 billion was injected into RBS, HBoS and Lloyds. He said: “We knew that if we didn't capitalise our banks, then [they] would collapse.”
Read Geordie Greig's exclusive interview with Gordon Brown here
Reader views (49)
Only fitting that the man who got Labour in should now get them out.
- John Smith, London. UK, 08/02/2010 07:35
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Goodbye Labour.
- Trisha, EAST CROYDON, 08/02/2010 01:14
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A class act Brown and Blair. Past and present Prime Ministers who have brought this country to its knees. The average working person is paying approximately 70% of their income in tax, when you include all the stealth taxes, fuel tax, council tax, speeding and parking fines etc, only for the government to waste at least 50% of it.
- Jose Luis, London SW18, 06/02/2010 16:32
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Just to disprove the theory that only negative minded politician hating comments appear on these boards, I think that Tony Blair worked hard for the country to the best of his ability. Difficult decisions were made during his tenure whether one agrees or otherwise with his choices. For Labour to continue with their policies, more hard work and difficult decisions will be needed by them and their supporters in the run up to the election. Conservative, labour or split, I am sure that our politicians will continue to work for the common good.
- Bob, Bognor, 06/02/2010 13:41
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Yet another example of the extent to which Gordon Brown has lost touch with the electorate, or even reality!
I know of nobody who would be encouraged to vote Labour just because Tony Blair was canvassing for them, in fact the vast majority of people find this oleaginous, grinning fraudster and his Marie Antoinette of a wife thoroughly revolting.
- Miguelm, West London, UK, 06/02/2010 13:25
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Looks like lie-bore have lost London then i dont see one post in favour of brown !
the man is Sick he is not fit to be anywhere near parliament!
Be Gone With You !
- Andy, manchester, 06/02/2010 11:25
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We have just served a 13 year sentence. Apart from anything else, we just can't afford another 4-5 years hard Labour. Dream on Brown, deluded as ever.
- Frank, Bournemouth, England, 06/02/2010 09:55
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Wherever he speaks he'll have to use the back door like some common money grubbing ....
- Frederick, London, 06/02/2010 07:10
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Surely this is an Oxymoron, if they vote for Blair, they must be brain dead, floating face down in the water perhaps.
Ahhhh, Postal Votes using dead voters, I see.
- Adrian Peirson, Hull Great Britain, 06/02/2010 01:01
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What "successes" Gordon? Don't you mean failures?
- Judith, KIng's Lynn, Norfolk, UK, 05/02/2010 23:53
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Labour,the party of the Looney Lefty's!!!!!!
- Mark A, Warrington, 05/02/2010 21:26
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Idiots.
Why not indict Winston Churchill for removing Hitler. After all the invasion of Poland was not a direct threat to the UK. Let us turn our backs on all the oppressed of this world using the argument that our land is not threatened.
Blair is a hero!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Mike, Durban South Africa, 05/02/2010 20:28
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Best news I have heard all week.Best winning move for Cameron.Lets have a few more gems from Gordon.They should be arrested for impersonating politicians.
- Ken Winter, bishop auckland England, 05/02/2010 20:05
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It's in the bag then .... for the Tories.
- Alex, Buenos Aires, 05/02/2010 19:45
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Well our delusional prime mentalist makes another great move as he brings in someone more hated and derided that himself - which is a difficult task in itself - Tony BLiar to convince the voter to vote for robber Mugabe and Zanu Liebour what a move from the saviour of the world and the banks.
- David Mackintosh, Motherwell Scotland, 05/02/2010 19:27
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I always rated Brown as a first class Prat, glad to have it confirmed
- Len Welsh, Grays, England, 05/02/2010 18:14
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A wise move Gordon! Please have more great ideas like this and then go to the polls.
- Jules_London, london, 05/02/2010 17:51
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We don't want any more of Bliar thank you very much. Just go, the lot of you labour plonkers, please!
- Wa, Oxfordshire, England, 05/02/2010 17:47
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What a winning team: the liar who took us to war and the banker who denied our soldiers the tools to do the job. A real killing duo.
- John Bell, Nottm, UK, 05/02/2010 17:36
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Having read the comments, one thing is clear, there is a general consensus that Labour will lose, particularly with Blair's face on the campaigne trail. Not so fast, I fear for a large part of the British public who are obtuse and have short memories, possibly those that are welfare dependent, that may just usher in this corrupt, self-serving socialist lot for a fourth term. It's important that if you want this lot out, we must get out there and vote, and encourage all those whom we know to vote this lot out. We can't allow Brown's client state to run this country into the ground.
- Dominique, london, 05/02/2010 17:17
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He will be jeered wherever he dares to show his face! Unless he goes to the morons club, where he may just get a hearing. He and his greedy wife have to be the most despised couple in the country. Don't they see it?
Well, the Tories must be happy.
- Beatriz, London, 05/02/2010 17:13
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You sad delusional bunch. It is because you fear him so much that you have to vilify him. You know that he will make an impact and it scares you. For those who doubt the closet Conservative admirers, you obviously didn't read Benedict Brogan in the Telegraph, or Frazer Nelson in the Spectator, after Chilcot, just a couple of Tory supporters who support Tony Blair's stance on the Iraq war, and his current take on Iran. You obviously are having an amnesia moment with regard to the supporters of the war at the time. The Conservative party had access to all the documents before the vote in Parliament. Indeed, William Hague told Tony Blair he should do more and move faster with regard to Saddam (check Hansard). And for those of you who have forgotten, David Cameron describes himself as the heir to Blair, although of course he is just a poor facsimile.
- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain, 05/02/2010 17:13
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That's it then - election result guaranteed for Cameron
- John Coker, Leighton Buzzard, 05/02/2010 16:42
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Well done Gordon you have possibly sounded the death knell for your Party,employing the Grim Reaper !!
- Davey_Bouy, Chertsey, 05/02/2010 16:41
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Classic labour! stop digging !!!
- Kevin`, london,uk, 05/02/2010 16:04
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Having made an estmated £15,000,000 since leaving office will Mr Bliar(sic) pay his own transport costs? He is currently costing the British taxpayer £6,000,000 annually in security services. "Horny handed son of toil?" I think not!
- Boris Norris, Alcossebre, Spain, 05/02/2010 15:58
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Clueless! Classic case of denial, they cannot accept the fact that they despised!
- Kevin Sullivan, Roehampton, London, 05/02/2010 15:51
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What a price to pay to get The Pope to visit the this Island.
- Sam Dickins, London, 05/02/2010 15:50
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Wonderful news - for David Cammeron!!!!!!!!!!!
- John, Prestbury, 05/02/2010 15:37
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The final in the coffin for these scum.
- A. Cameron, Liege, Belgium, 05/02/2010 15:35
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New Labour's successes? Oxymoron surely??
Deluded dead ducks ...
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 05/02/2010 15:04
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Surely anyone voting for Labour after the last 12 years is already a floater?
- Bob, Cheam, 05/02/2010 14:38
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This is priceless, three clowns Blair-Brown and Mandy who destroyed the working mans party Big mistake.
- Alex., brighton, 05/02/2010 14:37
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I predict a hung parliament and another general election twelve months later.....and in the second one UKIP will be swept to power with a vast majority.
- Jacob, Broken Britain Dismantled UK, 05/02/2010 14:28
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Will they tell us before hand where Blair is going to speak?,!!!!!
- John, Bournemouth, 05/02/2010 14:27
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Mark H.
You have no idea how frighteningly close to the truth you are.
Observe as they now give Harriet Harman even more authority in a prominent position, somewhere she can do some real and lasting damage.
Job done.
- Hvid Sandheden, Copenhagen, 05/02/2010 14:19
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Desperation.
They have no idea.
- Jon, W Ken, 05/02/2010 14:16
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As usual, I will be voting for my cat. I really think he would do a better job at running this country. Go cat!
- Jay, London, 05/02/2010 14:14
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A winning move! (For Cameron).
- John Bull, Londonistan, UK, 05/02/2010 14:01
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So that'll be a leader who was not elected to that post and two who are not elected at all. The Politburo is alive and well.
- Bj, East London, 05/02/2010 13:55
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Shows how divorced from the real world Brown is, looks like he's being stitched up by the strategists who want him out after the election, they want him to lose big and with Bliar on board he will, good move by the plotters.
- Ken, london uk, 05/02/2010 13:32
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My goodness. I thought it was just rumours, but it looks like Gordon Broon and the Liebour party are really out of touch with the public after all. Mabye Gordo secretly wants the Tories to win the next election and inherit the finacial mess that he created.
- Mark H, London England, 05/02/2010 13:31
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Brown must be really desperate to appoint a war criminal to help win him a few votes. Blair is despised as much as Brown is.
- R.F.York, Yorks, UK, 05/02/2010 13:25
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Labour really have lost all sense of reality haven't they? The only person more hated by the electorate than Brown is Blair.
- Sue, Kent, 05/02/2010 13:25
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Only 3 months to go.
- Dee Jay, Fleet Hampshire, 05/02/2010 13:19
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Please name the Tories who were "privately impressed by Tony Blair's recent performance" before the Chilcot inquiry. I think you must have made that bit up.
- Roger, Wimbledon, UK, 05/02/2010 13:07
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BIG mistake. Bliar's re-emergence from his counting house last Friday at the Chilcott enquiry demonstrated that he is just as oily, unrepentant and annoying as ever. Dave will be laughing into his muesli.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one, 05/02/2010 12:44
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What a smart move that is - well done Gordon!
I am sure floating voters want to hear the ramblings of a mass murderer who lied to us about Iraq, is unapologetic and was up to his big ears and crooked teeth in sleaze!
The Tories must be happy today - so am I
- James From Camden, London, 05/02/2010 12:43
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Liebour are really deluded if they think that bliar is a vote winner. If there is one man i hate more than brown its Blair for letting brown ruin the economy in the first place and then doing a runner when he saw what a god awful mess he had made.
- Billericay Dave, essex, 05/02/2010 12:43
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