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Tony Blair: 'I'd vote for Jeremy Corbyn to stop Brexit'

Tony Blair would be willing to vote for Jeremy Corbyn if it meant no Brexit (Picture: PA)
Tony Blair would be willing to vote for Jeremy Corbyn if it meant no Brexit (Picture: PA)

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair has said he is prepared to vote for Jeremy Corbyn in a general election if it means stopping Brexit.

Mr Blair said he did not agree with some of the current Labour leader’s policies but was still willing to back him for the good of the country.

“That’s a really difficult question,” he said when asked if he’d vote for Labour during a speech at the Institute for Government in London on Monday.

He added: “Because of the struggle I have with other aspects of Labour policy.

“There are some huge problems with the Labour Party. I personally believe so strongly on Brexit that I would do virtually anything to stop it.”

Pushed if that “included voting for Jeremy Corbyn”, he said: “Yeah, including that.”

He added: “The dilemma I have expressed to you very honestly is the dilemma of a lot of people are faced with.”

Britain's opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn
Jeremy Corbyn is trying to figure out a way to stop a no-deal Brexit (Picture: AP)

But Mr Blair warned against the UK holding an election before Brexit was delivered and described it as an “elephant trap” for the Labour party.

He said he feared Mr Corbyn could lose because the electorate did not think he’d make a good prime minister.

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Mr Blair advised Mr Corbyn to reject a general election if he was offered it by the Tories because he felt they were preparing for one and wanted to make it seem as if they were pushed.

He added: “Boris Johnson knows that if no-deal Brexit stands on its own as a proposition it might well fail but if he mixes it up with the Corbyn question in a general election he could succeed despite a majority being against a no-deal Brexit because some may fear a Corbyn premiership more.”

Asked if Labour could win a general election, Mr Blair said “it is conceivable” but added: “Look at the polling.

“If I was polling at 20% when I was leader of the opposition, I would have had people knocking at my door.”

Johnson has pledged to deliver Brexit on October 31 whether he agrees a new deal with the European Union or not.

Opposition MPs - and a contingent from Johnson’s Conservatives from Tuesday - will try to legislate this week to stop the possibility of no-deal.

Johnson has threatened to expel rebel Conservative lawmakers if they thwart his Brexit plans by voting with the opposition, a move that would eradicate his already slim majority and make his ability to govern very difficult.

He could then seek an election to break the deadlock.

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