• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Meet the Team
  • Contact us
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home Politics

Tony Blair calls for ‘radical’ overhaul to mark Labour’s 120th anniversary

He admitted 2020 isn't 1997, saying Labour must "redefine what radical means".

Jack Peat by Jack Peat
2020-02-20 07:53
in Politics
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

Ex-prime minister Tony Blair is set to urge Labour to undergo a “head-to-toe renewal” to avoid being out of power for three-quarters of its 120-year existence.

Mr Blair, who is due to give a speech on Thursday marking the foundation of the Labour Party, will push for the left-wing outfit to find a “radical” new mandate if it is to win power again within the next decade.

And the 66-year-old will use his intervention to urge the remaining three leadership contenders to heed his warnings about Labour’s current state of political wilderness, given he is the only surviving party leader to have won a general election.

New Labour legacy

The ex-Downing Street incumbent won three elections for the party between 1997 and 2005, but his New Labour legacy has been brought into question by some members and even candidates seeking to succeed Jeremy Corbyn as leader.

Leadership hopeful Lisa Nandy accused the last Labour government of sticking with the “consensus” of right-wing economics introduced by Tory prime minister Margaret Thatcher, and Sir Keir Starmer wants a Prevention of Military Intervention Act to avoid another Iraq war.

Mr Blair is expected to tell a central London audience: “I thought hard about taking stock on the Labour Party’s 120th anniversary – it’s not as if my advice is particularly welcome to today’s party.

“But then it occurred to me that there are only two people born in the last 120 years who have actually won an election for Labour. And alas Harold Wilson is long gone.

RelatedPosts

Jamie Oliver threatens Johnson with ‘Eton Mess’ protest over anti-obesity U-turn

Gove was ‘advised’ to do funny accents during TV interviews

What was Theresa May’s Irish Backstop deal?

This video tells you everything you need to know about the NI Protocol in under 2 minutes

“Out of 120 years, Labour has been in power for just over 30 of them. That is a stark statistic.

“We now have another Tory Government for five years, and possibly for 10.

“Were that to happen, Labour would have been in office less than a quarter of its existence.”

Radical form of politics for the 21st century

Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir, Wigan MP Ms Nandy and shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey are the last three standing in the race to replace outgoing Mr Corbyn.

The Islington North MP announced his resignation after delivering the party’s worst election defeat since 1935 in December.

And Mr Blair warned the next leader, due to be announced on April 4, that Labour needed to discover a “radical” form of politics for the 21st century, rather than adopt a left-wing approach propagated in the last.

“The problem is that we have defined radical politics by a policy agenda which is hopelessly out of date, with ‘moderate’ politics being just a milder version of it,” he is expected to say.

“We must redefine what radical means. We’re living through a technology revolution which is the 21st century equivalent of the 19th century Industrial Revolution.

“It will change everything and therefore everything should change including radical reorientation of Government.

“This is the context in which we tackle inequality, promote social justice and redistribute power.”

2020 isn’t 1997

The 66-year-old is set to argue that the overhaul goes beyond just the remit of the next leader.

“What is going to make the next 120 years different from the first? That is the big challenge – a mountain bigger than who’s the next leader,” said Mr Blair, who spent a decade in Number 10.

“2020 isn’t 1997, or even 2007. And 2030 will be a revolution different from 2020. It’s always about the future.

“Precisely because of that, because whilst pointing forwards we have been travelling backwards, nothing less than ‘born again’ head to toe renewal will do.”

Related: Time for businesses to start training British workers, says Priti Patel

Tags: headline
Please login to join discussion

Since you are here

Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.

Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.

Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.

If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.

To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.

The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.

The shop can be found here.

You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending on TLE

  • All
  • trending
Abdollah

‘Rescue us’: Afghan teacher begs UK to help him escape Taliban

CHOMSKY: “If Corbyn had been elected, Britain would be pursuing a much more sane course”

What If We Got Rid Of Prisons?

More from TLE

Watch – Dozy driver mounts two parked cars!

Frack off! Brits turn their backs on controversial shale gas extraction

Bankside Autograph Collection: hotel review

German MEP tells PM to “stop blaming others for your own actions” and “take responsibility” for Brexit

Stones For The Rampart – Film Review/Interview with Director Robert Glinski

Counselling service promoting better mental health & support in East London

Model & campaigner was humiliated when his colostomy bag leaked & staff at conference centre REFUSED to let him use the toilet

Public want higher taxes on wealth and no bailouts for tax haven companies

Breaking: Last minute bids as Priti Patel separates dozens of families in Jamaica deportation flight controversy

Surprise Surprise! Cutting disability benefits doesn’t motivate people back to work

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.