Tony Blair has warned Keir Starmer, Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting that Labour risks its future by moving away from the political centre. He said the party’s tendency toward self-deception could lead to defeat at the next election. In a detailed 5,700-word essay published on Tuesday, Blair called for tighter welfare controls, an end to limits on oil and gas, and better relations with Donald Trump. The intervention from a former Labour prime minister is expected to provoke strong reactions within the party. One senior figure accused Blair of abandoning social democratic principles. Blair also advised against attempts to remove Starmer, stressing that any leadership change must begin with a clear policy discussion. He criticised Burnham and Streeting for tax and spending proposals previously rejected by credible governments. Blair described it as a recurring error for Labour to shift left after losing support on the right, especially while in power. He noted that recent local elections showed Labour losing more votes to the Greens than to Reform. Blair also questioned Starmer’s handling of relations with the United States over its conflict with Iran and criticised reductions in foreign aid. He highlighted policies such as Angela Rayner’s employment rights bill, Ed Miliband’s net zero targets, and changes to taxes and non-dom status as damaging to business. Blair recommended removing barriers to AI growth, expanding planning reforms, reversing North Sea energy restrictions, and overhauling welfare. A Labour source dismissed the comments as disconnected from working-class concerns. Blair argued that Starmer’s main challenge was a lack of clear direction rather than communication issues.
