Tony Blair, former Prime Minister and Middle East envoy, has cautioned current Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer about the growing influence of right-wing parties in the UK. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive plan to manage immigration effectively.
After Labour’s decisive election victory, Starmer commenced his third day as Prime Minister by touring Scotland on Sunday. Despite Labour’s strong majority, Blair warned that challenges posed by the anti-immigration Reform UK Party remain significant.
The Reform Party, led by staunch Brexit supporter Nigel Farage, strategically split the right-wing vote to undermine the Conservatives in the recent election. The party secured five seats in Parliament and 14% of the vote, with Farage threatening to target Labour supporters next.
In a Sunday Times essay, Blair proposed the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to control illegal immigration, noting that “traditional political parties are facing disruption across the Western world.”
“New entrants are causing upheaval wherever they can. Just look at France or Italy,” Blair observed.
He stressed the importance of a clear immigration strategy, stating, “We need a plan to control immigration. Without rules, we foster prejudices.”
Immigration was a key issue in the recent election campaign. Blair, the only Labour leader to have led the party to three consecutive election victories starting with his 1997 landslide, suggested digital ID technology as the best solution.
“We should transition to digital ID as the rest of the world is doing. If not, new border controls must be exceptionally effective,” he wrote.
Blair also advocated for “a tough new approach to law and order,” expressing concern that “criminal elements are modernizing faster than law enforcement.”
He advised against policies perceived as excessively politically correct, warning that the government should “avoid any vulnerability on ‘wokeism’.”