Labour has 'no coherent plan' for country, says Blair

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Labour has 'no coherent plan' for country, says Blair14 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleBecky MortonGetty ImagesSir Tony Blair has accused Sir Keir Starmer's government of having no "coherent plan" for the country and introducing policies that have held back business. In a highly critical essay, the former Labour PM singled out measures including new workers' rights laws, the phasing out of the British oil and gas industry and the above-inflation uplift to the minimum wage. However, he warned that whether there was a change of leader was "irrelevant if it doesn't start with a policy debate".

Downing Street declined to comment on the essay before it was published, but said Sir Keir was "fully focussed on delivering change for working people". A spokeswoman pointed to measures aimed at easing the cost of living, with the economy growing before the Iran conflict broke out, as well as falling NHS waiting lists, migration and serious violent crime. She added: "But there's obviously much more to do, and we are getting on with that job.

The Details

"The essay of more than 5,600 words is Sir Tony's first in-depth critique of Sir Keir's government. It comes as the prime minister is under severe pressure, following a disastrous set of election results earlier this month and five ministerial resignations, with a leadership challenge widely expected. Chris Mason: Inside the shadow contest to be our next prime ministerIs it harder than ever to be prime minister?

Sir Tony said the government's "principal problem" was not "Keir's personality" or "a failure to communicate 'our achievements'", which have often been pointed to as weaknesses of the PM. He wrote: "It is because we don't have a worked-out coherent plan for the country in a fast-changing world and are in the wrong political position from which we can devise one and win a second term". However, he added: "Trying to force the prime minister out before we know what policy direction we're bringing in, is not a serious way of conducting ourselves.

"While Sir Tony said he agreed with some of the government's policies, including investment in infrastructure, reform of the planning system and reducing trade friction with Europe, the former PM said other commitments were "unwise to proceed with" given the current economic circumstances. He pointed to new workers' rights laws, which have faced criticism from some business groups who argue they will discourage companies from hiring and hit economic growth. Sir Tony also criticised the decision to increase National Insurance for employers, which he said had undermined business confidence.

'Headwinds not tailwinds'"Then, in the last Budget, it appeared as if we were increasing tax to pay for additional welfare spending, when the public already thinks welfare bills are too high," he said. "Taken together, these measures have given headwinds not tailwinds to British business despite the macroeconomic gains for which the chancellor is rightly praised.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.