Tony Blair gives ‘100% backing’ to Ed Miliband

Tony Blair has made a dramatic return to British politics. Picture: Getty

In a speech in his former Sedgefield constituency, the former Prime Minister described last year’s independence referendum as “a near death experience.”

But he said it was an example of how voters cannot be trusted to base their decisions on “sensible” economic arguments.

He said: “I had to laugh when I heard the SNP leader challenge Ed Miliband over whether he voted for Tory spending cuts.

“The reality is that had Scotland voted to exit the UK, it would now be in economic trauma trying to negotiate its currency against the sliding backdrop of devalution of oil related economies.

“Never mind Tory cuts, they would be dwarfed by the SNP cuts to keep the Scottish economy afloat in the radically altered market conditions we now face.”

However, he added: “But the point is this, despite that rational evisceration of the case fr the policy that defines the SNP, support for them, at least according to the polls is even stronger than at the time of the referendum.

“Nationalism is a powerful sentiment. Let that genie out of the bottle and it’s a Herculean task to get it back in to put it back in and reason alone struggles.

“The referendum on Europe carries with it exactly the same risks.”

Mr Blair insisted he is “100 per cent behind Ed Miliband” but admitted his party faces a “tough struggle in Scotland.”

he praised new Scottish leader Jim Murphy, a leading Blairite, as “a brilliant leader”.

However, he said: “I am optimistic in the end reason will win.”

He also praised Mr Miliband for not agreeing to an EU referendum.

He said: “Labour and its Leader took a brave decision when they decided not to yield to pressure but instead to make the principled and intelligent case for Britain in Europe. In doing so, they showed that they understand Britain’s future and its destiny better than those prepared to trade policy for political advantage.

“That is one very good reason, amongst many others, for voting Labour on 7 May. I want Labour to win. I want us to win for the future of our country and its place in the world. I want Labour, under Ed’s leadership, to be the Government of our country on May 8th. I believe we can and will do it.”