Ditching Jeremy Corbyn’s left-wing agenda won’t be enough for Labour to win elections, Tony Blair will say today.
In a speech to mark the 120th anniversary of the founding of the party, the former Labour leader is expected to say the party has an “extraordinary attachment” to retreating to “a narrow part of the left” – instead of aiming for the centre ground, where they have previously won.
And he will say the only way forward he can see for the party is “fundamental reconstruction”. “If Labour becomes more moderate and less extreme, of course it will do better,” the former PM will say.
“But not much. The problem is that we have defined radical politics by a policy agenda which is hopelessly out of date, with ‘moderate’ politics being just a milder version of it.
“We must redefine what radical means. We’re living through a technology revolution which is the 21st Century equivalent of the 19th Century Industrial Revolution.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
“It will change everything and therefore everything should change including radical reorientation of Government.
“This is the context in which we tackle inequality, promote social justice and redistribute power.”
Speaking in London, he’s expected to admit his advice is not “particularly welcome to today’s party.”
But he will add: “Then it occurred to me that there are only two people born in the last 120 years who have actually won an election for Labour.
“And alas Harold Wilson is long gone.”
(Image: Getty)
As ballots go out to allow members to choose Mr Corbyn’s replacement, the three-time election winner will say this challenge will be “a mountain bigger than who’s the next Labour leader.”
He’s expected to say: “2020 isn’t 1997 or even 2007.
“And 2030 will be a revolution different from 2020. It’s always about the future.
“Precisely because of that, because whilst pointing forwards, we have been traveling backwards, nothing less than ‘born again’ head to toe renewal, will do.”
