Tony Blair announces shock return to frontline politics and vows to get his ‘hands dirty’ in bid to block Brexit
The divisive former Labour PM announced his comeback 20 years after his 1997 landslide election triumph
TONY Blair stunned Westminster last night by announcing his return to frontline politics and declared: “You need to get your hands dirty and I will.”
The divisive former Labour PM said he will be taking an "active part in trying to shape the policy debate" ahead of the General Election next month and the following Brexit talks.
The bombshell return of the arch-Europhile comes on the 20th anniversary of his 1997 landslide election triumph.
And it sparked fears of a renewed push to block Brexit as he admitted that our vote to leave the EU has given him "direct motivation to get more involved" again.
He told the that he is expecting to "get a bucket of wotsit poured all over me" but he could not resist staying on the outside.
The three-time election winner admitted he finds it hard being hated by some people.
But as he declared his return to British politics last night he insisted the image of him concentrating on making money worldwide since he left office in 2007 was wrong.
Asked about being seen as toxic, he said: “Yep, it’s hard . . . but when you achieve power you have to make decisions and when that happens, and the process of government is your life, you become less popular.”
Mr Blair told GQ magazine he should have communicated more after quitting as his silence allowed others to portray him in a bad light.
He added: “If you read about what I have been doing these last 10 years you’d think I’ve just been making money when I have spent the vast bulk of my time in the Middle East, in Africa, on the things I believe in.”
Most read in news
Mr Blair, who has been widely criticised over the invasion of Iraq in 2003, described the current situation in Syria as a "hideous blot" on Western foreign policy.
"When the Arab Spring began, what I said to people was be very careful because you have been through a situation in Iraq and Afghanistan where you have removed a dictatorship but then the problems begin.
"So, if you can evolve a transition, do that. My view on Syria and Libya was it would have been better to have agreed a process of transition, so if you could cut a deal, which I think you could have, with Gaddafi, or Assad, for transition, that would be better.
"Then having said you wanted them to go, you had to get them out.
"And the problem with what we have done in Syria is that we have insisted he go, but then not made him go. And the inevitability therefore of a civil war as a result of that was, I'm afraid, very clear.
"He was going to fight to stay and then the Russians and the Iranians came in on his side and propped him up. But what has happened in Syria in my view is a hideous blot on Western foreign policy."
The ex-PM criticised people who compare US President Donald Trump to some of history's worst dictators.
"The comparisons with Hitler and Stalin are ridiculous. However, as I said openly during the campaign, I would have backed Hillary Clinton. You can assume what my views are."
Mr Blair also warned Scotland about opting to break away from the UK, stating: "I do not think independence is sensible for Scotland even if Brexit happens."
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368
