Tony Blair has also spoken to Times Radio. He argued the government should drop its net zero target, suggesting that if this led to Ed Miliband resigning as energy secretary it would not be an issue. When asked if he wanted to remove Miliband’s targets, Blair said yes and explained that he supports renewable energy but believes policy must focus on cheap energy and electrification. He noted that China, the United States and India produce over half of global emissions and are prioritising affordable power, especially with AI growth. Britain accounts for less than one percent of emissions and cannot solve climate change alone, so imposing extra costs on businesses and consumers makes little sense, he said. He added that no other country is closing its oil and gas sector. This stance closely matches the Conservative position. Blair said the approach would make Miliband’s role difficult but stressed the need to explain priorities to the public. Blair and Miliband have disagreed for over a decade. Blair backed David Miliband in the 2010 leadership race and felt Ed Miliband wrongly rejected some New Labour policies. In a Today programme interview Blair advised Labour members to settle policy direction before picking a leader. He urged candidates, including Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting, to outline what the government has done right or wrong and what should change. While praising Burnham, Blair disagreed with his claim that policies over the past forty years had failed voters. Blair said Burnham is a strong candidate but questioned the idea that nothing positive occurred under Thatcher or New Labour. He warned that without clear policy explanations any leadership change would repeat earlier problems. Blair also said the government should have focused more on growth from the start and questioned whether the pensions triple lock remains affordable. He argued that in difficult economic times commitments should be reviewed to support business and seize AI opportunities. He suggested higher taxes, spending and borrowing could hinder growth if not addressed.
