Skip to content
Friday 21 August 2026London --:--Frankfurt --:--Zurich --:--
NewslettersSearchEN · DE · FR
MorningWire

European business, markets and politics

FTSE 100
10,816.56
+0.64%
DAX
26,136.56
+0.59%
CAC 40
8,484.43
+0.37%
STOXX 50
6,462.22
+0.63%
  • Europe
  • Markets
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Regulation
  • Politics
  • Opinion
More
GermanyFranceEU InstitutionsCompetitionPublic AffairsBankingTechnologyEnergy
  • Germany
  • France
  • Europe
  • Markets
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Regulation
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • DE
Monday 25 November 2019 8:19 am

Tony Blair: Both UK parties are ‘peddling fantasies’ ahead of General Election

By: James Warrington

Add as a preferred source on Google
Annual Charity Day Hosted By Cantor Fitzgerald, BGC and GFI - Cantor Fitzgerald Office - Inside

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn are both “peddling fantasies” ahead of the upcoming General Election, Tony Blair will say today.

At an event in London, the former Prime Minister is set to criticise the country’s two main parties for offering a stark choice, aiming to win over voters “on the basis that whatever your dislike of what they’re offering, the alternative is worse”.

Read more: General Election: Boris Johnson promises to ‘forge a new Britain’ post-Brexit

The comments come a day after the Conservatives unveiled their notably low-key manifesto – a stark contrast to Labour’s huge spending promises.

Blair, who was in office for 10 years until 2007, will say that many Brits are “scratching their heads, changing their minds, floating and unsure” before the vote on 12 December.

“The unifying sentiment is a desire, bordering on the febrile, to end the mess, to wake from the nightmare,” he will say in a speech at a Reuters newsmaker event.

“This desire, though completely understandable, is in danger of leading us into a big mistake; and frankly we cannot afford another of those.”

The former Labour leader will criticise the Tories for offering up the “fantasy” of getting Brexit done, when the reality is that they will start new talks on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU that could “last for years”.

Read more: Corbyn to remain neutral in second Brexit referendum

Equally, he will slam the Labour party under Corbyn for offering a “revolution”.

“The problem with revolutions is never how they begin but how they end,” he will say.

Main image credit: Getty

Read more

Should Burnham dash for an early election?

Andy Burnham, wearing a dark suit and glasses, speaks outdoors with trees in the background.

Share this article

  • Facebook
  • X
  • LinkedIn
  • WhatsApp
  • Email

Similarly tagged content:

Sections

  • News

Categories

  • Politics

Related Topics

  • Tony Blair

Trending Articles

  • House prices in wealthy London boroughs fall by up to £300,000

  • As it happened: Miners fuel FTSE 100 recovery; oil jumps as Trump claims Strait of Hormuz

  • City law firm sues prominent Emirati business family

  • Amanda Blanc has worked her magic at Aviva

  • As it happened: FTSE 100 rallies after JD Sports drags on blue chips; oil jumps again

More from Morning Wire

  • Should Burnham dash for an early election?

    Opinion
    Andy Burnham, wearing a dark suit and glasses, speaks outdoors with trees in the background.
  • Watch out, Burnham

    watches
    Man in The Passage apron slicing food in a commercial kitchen, with a food allergens chart visible.
  • Andy Burnham should show London he cares by funding this one transport project

    Opinion
    Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, standing outside 10 Downing Street in a suit and tie.
  • ‘Businesses are not cash machines’ – Badenoch calls on Burnham to rule out tax rises

    Politics
    Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch is preferred as Prime Minister to Keir Starmer. Photo: PA
  • Keir Starmer wasn’t weird enough for Westminster

    Opinion
    Keir Starmer holding a football with a World Cup logo, smiling and engaging in a sports event discussion.
  • In praise of Count Binface

    Opinion
    Count Binface wearing a silver mask and cape, standing in front of a podium during a press conference.
  • Lucy Rigby back as City minister

    Politics
    Lucy Rigby, a blonde woman in glasses and a red blazer, with a phone in her pocket, walking past a black gate.
  • Brits say Burnham should call an election

    Politics
    Number 10 Downing Street entrance with iconic black door, symbolizing British political power and leadership
MorningWire

Independent European business, markets and political news for decision-makers.

Morning Briefing

Europe

  • Germany
  • France
  • EU Institutions
  • Europe

Business

  • Markets
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Regulation
  • Competition
  • Public Affairs

Editorial

  • Opinion
  • Editorial Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact

Company

  • About Morning Wire
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookie Policy
© 2026 Morning Wire Ltd · Published by Morning Wire Media, Bahnhofstrasse 65, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Privacy · Terms · Cookies · Facebook