Tony Blair took TV audiences by surprise this morning during an interview with ITV’s Paul Brand.
The ex-Labour Party leader, 67, spoke about devolution and a potential Scottish Independence referendum during the chat.
He said he doubts the people of Scotland want another independence referendum when pressed on the matter – even casting doubt on whether the SNP will win a majority next week.
“My best bet is that in the end Scotland will vote ultimately to remain inside the UK, but I agree it’s proved to be a tougher fight than we anticipated,” he said.
“Although again you’ve got to say 2014 when we had the referendum and there was a majority for Scotland saying that ended the issue until Brexit put it back on the agenda.
“I do think one of the weaknesses of the way we approached devolution was not to build real cultural ties and emphasise the enormous things Scotland, England, or the different countries in the United Kingdom have in common.
“I’m not sure that even if the SNP win a majority in the Scottish Parliament that it necessarily means that people want to go through the disruption of an independence campaign, I would frankly doubt that.
“Of course it becomes more difficult over time that if opinion looks as if it’s fixed, but let’s see if that’s actually the case.”
But the comments seem to have largely been overlooked after his new hair style caught the attention of viewers.
Here’s what people had to say:
NEW: Tony Blair tells me the devolution he designed contained “weaknesses” which failed to quash nationalism.
— Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) April 27, 2021
As we look ahead to May’s crucial elections for the future of the union, he says a failure to focus on cultural ties may have left it in peril.https://t.co/qXHxhKeapv
Reactions
Wow just wow, well here are some reactions…
1.
Tony Blair morphing into the possessed Vigo painting in Ghostbusters pic.twitter.com/OUahzeOEtm
— Marcus Barnett (@marcusbarnett_) April 27, 2021
2.
He-e-e-e-ere’s Tony! pic.twitter.com/EgUbshYA6y
— Parody Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson_MP) April 27, 2021
3.
Why do I feel like I’m about to be asked to liquidate my savings to invest in an Executive Success Program? pic.twitter.com/41RXDnjGzW
— Sam Whyte (@SamWhyte) April 27, 2021
4.
‘answer me these riddles three,
— Fred Delicious (@Fred_Delicious) April 27, 2021
if you wish to seek the WMD’ pic.twitter.com/L0pFGmaeb9
5.
If you say WMD three times he crawls out of the screen 45 minutes later pic.twitter.com/uw5Vf6MLk9
— James Felton (@JimMFelton) April 27, 2021
6.
I understand this last year and lockdown has been difficult and many of us have changed. But Tony Blair changing into David Icke must surely be the strangest change of all! pic.twitter.com/h7GhkVJvJz
— Glyn Shemwell (@GlynShemwell) April 27, 2021
7.
Everybody knows you never go full Peter Stringfellow pic.twitter.com/pB2Zg0kQYv
— Giles Paley-Phillips (@eliistender10) April 27, 2021
8.
Why is Blair announcing he’s out of rehab, clean for the first time in 15yrs & will be joining Status Quo & Jethro Tull on stage for a rock legends gig in Hyde Park this September pic.twitter.com/1eNli5MbL5
— tom jamieson (@jamiesont) April 27, 2021
9.
It’s like someone gave Wetherspoons Gummidge the Queer Eye treatment pic.twitter.com/YjE9fO6kvW
— Enough Of That Now (@AndyGilder) April 27, 2021
10.
“Yeah we let our son smoke it at home. You know back in the day me and my wife used to smoke it a bit too. We just think if he’s gonna do it we’d prefer he do it at the house, so yeah, pass it along son! Haha, no, but seriously” pic.twitter.com/vNHSwfDbVb
— Mollie Goodfellow (@hansmollman) April 27, 2021
11.
“He chose.. poorly” pic.twitter.com/ykfMbe4Xlg
— HappyToast ★ (@IamHappyToast) April 27, 2021
12.
Strong Indiana Jones and the last crusade death scene going on pic.twitter.com/vPoi67DGix
— gareth lawson (@lawson1978) April 27, 2021
13.
When your new novel is about an intelligent, attractive student who embarks upon a torrid and sexually rewarding relationship with an older novelist. pic.twitter.com/XN4XwEd7Eq
— David Whitley (@mrdavidwhitley) April 27, 2021
14.
I was there 3000 years ago, when Isildur took the Ring. I was there the day the strength of men failed pic.twitter.com/awLoWzE8y9
— Hannah Rose Woods (@hannahrosewoods) April 27, 2021
15.
BREAKING: exclusive pictures of Tony Blair’s audition for Dr Who ? pic.twitter.com/b2Hh8rcsPg
— Violet Marianne (@BlightyUK) April 28, 2021
16.
Me: nah I like having long hair, nothing’s put me off yet
— AD (@AJOZKT) April 28, 2021
Blair: pic.twitter.com/SEXlwxpHQ9
17.
Tony Blair is *younger* than Jeremy Corbyn. pic.twitter.com/Nz9wkqu98k
— K ? ? (@justamemory_x) April 27, 2021
Related: Reactions as Nadine Dorries tried to stick up for Johnson and it didn’t go well