Tony Blair questions the survival of the euro

Tony Blair has questioned the survival of the euro unless growth is linked to fundamental reform.

The former prime minister said the only long-term solution was for Germany to stand fully behind the single currency. But he said the Germans would be prepared to do this only if wide-ranging reforms were also delivered by European governments.

Mr Blair, who left office in 2008, also said he would have accepted the presidency of the European Council if it had been offered in 2009 but that he was not currently seeking a position in European politics.

“The real difficulty you have got in Europe is people are being offered a choice between austerity plus major structural reform and, on the other hand, policies of growth and no reform,” he said.

“The only way you are going to get through this is to have a combination of growth and deep structural reform.”