Exit from EU would damage UK, says Blair

The United Kingdom's departure from the European Union would leave the country diminished and do significant damage to its economy, former British prime minister Tony Blair has said.

In his first major entry into the British election campaign, Mr Blair said the EU would not decide the voting intentions of “the overwhelming majority” of people who cast their ballots on May 7th.

Praising Labour leader Ed Miliband, Mr Blair said he had refused to "trade" the country's future in the way, he said, prime minister David Cameron had done to quell rebellion in his Conservative ranks.

The “oddest thing” about Cameron’s referendum pledge was that he did not “really believe” the UK should leave Europe – “not even Europe as it is today”, Mr Blair told an audience in his former constituency, Sedgefield.

Leadership

“It is greatly to Ed Miliband’s credit that he resolutely refused to make that trade. He faced down calls to follow the Tory concession from parts of the media and many inside our party. In doing so, he showed real leadership,” said Mr Blair.

“He showed that he would put the interests of the country first. He showed that on this, as on other issues, he is his own man, with his own convictions and determined to follow them even when they go against the tide.”

This is the second time in a week when Labour has sought to make a virtue out of Mr Miliband's refusal to hold a referendum, believing voters dislike the EU but are not prepared to quit. Criticising UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage, the former Labour leader said Ukip's desire to wrench the UK out of the EU was fundamentally based upon its hatred of immigrants.

Culturally tolerant

Posing a question for voters, Mr Blair asked if Ukip and the Eurosceptic Conservative right were “

the standard-bearers of an open-minded, culturally tolerant Britain” marked by creativity, innovation and curiosity.

“National pride is a great thing. Nationalism as a political cause, in the hands of parties like Ukip, is almost always ugly and can never, despite being wrapped in the garb of high-sounding phrases, disguise its mean spirit,” said.

Responding, Mr Cameron said Mr Blair did not trust the British public. “I think Tony Blair is wrong. I want changes in Europe but then, unlike Tony Blair, I will trust the people in an in-out referendum,” he said.

Mr Farage retaliated by focusing on Mr Blair’s financial interests, which are highly unpopular with British voters and which have multiplied since he left Downing Street in 2007. “There is no doubt that the corporate big-business sector that has made Blair so rich is against having a referendum, so neither is it a surprise to see Blair peddling their message,” he said.