Jump directly to the content
BACK TO BRUSSELS

Arch-Remainer Tony Blair demands EU reform immigration rules to keep us IN the bloc in fresh Brexit betrayal

The former Prime Minister, who is hell bent on reversing Brexit, said that Brits could be persuaded to stay in the union if they made key immigration reforms now
 

BRITAIN could vote to stay in the EU in a second referendum if the bloc made key reforms to immigration, Tony Blair has suggested.

The arch-Remainer will say today that there are just weeks left to stop Brexit, and that the key to winning over Leave voters is by making key changes to freedom of movement in the EU itself.

 Tony Blair wants Brussels to offer us an immigration deal to try and stop Brexit
2
Tony Blair wants Brussels to offer us an immigration deal to try and stop Brexit

In a fresh betrayal of the Brexit vote, he will call on Brussels today to do more to persuade us to stay.

He will demand a "comprehensive plan on immigration control" to try and lure people back to the bloc.

"We have to show people who voted leave that there are better ways," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning.

"There are many things Britain could do in the existing system, if we wanted to tighten immigration."

 If immigration controls were agreed for Britain, it could persuade us to stay, Blair argues
2
If immigration controls were agreed for Britain, it could persuade us to stay, Blair arguesCredit: PA:Press Association

He said that changes would have "widespread support across Europe" in other Eurosceptic countries who are suspicious of the EU, and Brussels bosses had a "responsibility" to try and stop Brexit.

In another repeat of Project Fear, he will say later that Brexit will leave Britain and the EU worse off, and weaken the standing of both.

But David Cameron's repeated attempts to get the bloc to change were to no avail over the years, critics argued.

And even Mr Blair admitted today that it wouldn't necessarily mean ripping up the freedom of movement rules Brussels won't give up on - which has led to huge hikes in immigration to Britain.

"That was then and this is now," he insisted today.

The former Prime Minister has repeatedly called for a fresh vote on the terms of a final Brexit deal to stop us leaving the EU at all - effectively ignoring the 17 million Brits who voted for freedom.

And his demands to reform the bloc don't take into account the huge swathes of voters who wanted us to leave so we could stop being under the EU's rules at all.

Arch-Remainer Tony Blair says there must be another referendum as no one knows what Brexit is

He hinted there would be support from other EU countries for his plans too. He said: "I can assure you I am not saying this on the basis of a whim."

The former Prime Minister insisted he wasn't speaking out to try and make it harder for his successor Theresa May, but that he felt a sense of duty to do so.

"There is no way around this dilemma," he moaned.

Topics