‘Damning’ intervention by Blair holds a positive note for Starmer, says Esther McVey

Esther McVey has said Sir Tony Blair is issuing a warning to Labour MPs not to change leader without knowing what they stand for.

Speaking on GB News, McVey said: “It is damning, what he’s written, and lacking a project is part of it. But he’s also saying how much they’ve got wrong.

“If it were to be about growth, then your welfare’s not working, your employers’ National Insurance hike wasn’t, the workers’ rights bill, the minimum wage, the acceleration of net zero, phasing out of British oil and gas.

“I mean, he’s absolutely gone into where he thinks Starmer’s government has failed, and he said, and if it were a priority of growth, well, you should be doing that, you should have eased up on the net zero.

“So, I think what he’s saying is spot on. Remember, this is the only Labour prime minister who’s won three elections, who did have the Blair project.

“He did start the expansion of quangos, so there is no accountability in government. They can’t really take control and oversight of what’s going on, because they are arm’s length bodies, independent of government. So he sowed the seeds of failure.

“However, on this, I think he’s on the money. I think Blair wants to come back. I think he’s saying, ‘I’m better than all you guys!’

“There’s only one bit here which I think Starmer should take as a bit of positive. He is sort of saying to the contenders, don’t force out the prime minister when you don’t know what you’re changing him for.

“Burnham was a Blairite. Burnham was in Blair’s government. Remember, Burnham actually was the man who helped deliver private health in the NHS in the Blair government.

“I just think Burnham bends to whoever is in charge, but I think it is a significant intervention.”