Blair Warns Against Ousting Starmer
Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has warned Labour against efforts to remove Prime Minister Keir Starmer, arguing that the party risks deepening its problems by focusing on leadership battles instead of policy direction.
In a lengthy essay released through the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, Blair said Labour’s main challenge is not Starmer’s character but the absence of a clear and convincing strategy for governing in a rapidly changing world. He urged the party to adopt what he described as “radical centrism,” centered on economic growth, planning reform, affordable energy, and lower welfare spending.
Blair’s intervention follows Labour’s heavy losses in recent local elections, where the party lost a significant share of council seats and surrendered control of Wales’ Senedd for the first time. The disappointing results intensified unrest within Labour, with a growing number of MPs reportedly questioning Starmer’s leadership.
Although no formal challenge has been launched, signs of internal division have emerged. Health Secretary Wes Streeting stepped down from his role and suggested he would enter a leadership contest if one occurred. Meanwhile, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has moved to secure a parliamentary seat that could position him for a future leadership bid, though he faces a difficult political battle against Reform UK in Makerfield.
Blair criticized Labour’s response to its setbacks, warning that removing the prime minister without first agreeing on a policy agenda would be reckless. He argued that the party has a tendency toward “self-delusion” and said leadership changes alone cannot solve deeper political problems.
The former Labour leader also questioned whether the government’s policies align with its stated ambition to grow the economy. While Starmer has repeatedly emphasized economic expansion as a priority, business groups have criticized measures such as higher employer taxes, increases to the minimum wage, and stronger workers’ rights protections, arguing that they discourage hiring and investment.
According to Blair, Labour has spent nearly two years governing from what he called its political “comfort zone,” associated with the party’s soft-left tradition. He challenged the government to reconsider whether it should focus more on affordable energy than clean energy, and whether rising welfare costs can be justified alongside higher taxes and growing defense commitments.
Blair further argued that Labour cannot rely solely on opposing Reform UK, which has remained strong in opinion polls and hopes to establish itself as a serious contender before the next general election. Instead, he said the party must build support from the “radical center” by prioritizing policy over political maneuvering.
Addressing foreign affairs, Blair defended Britain’s alliance with the United States despite recent tensions and criticism linked to President Donald Trump’s rhetoric. While acknowledging the difficulties of maintaining close ties with Washington, he said the relationship remains vital to UK security. At the same time, he encouraged Britain to maintain productive relations with China and Gulf nations to support economic growth.
Blair, who led Britain from 1997 to 2007 and remains Labour’s most electorally successful leader, framed his essay as a call for strategic clarity and political realism as the party confronts mounting pressure over its future direction.
Source | Bloomberg
