Tony Blair predicts that Brexit will not come to pass
Former UK Prime Minister criticises London Mayor Boris Johnson about his referendum choice
- In interview with Bloomberg, Blair says that turnout will be higher than in elections
- Tension mounts as momentum shifts in favour of 'Leave'
Updated : 16:57
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair has said that he believes Britain will stay in the European Union in the upcoming Brexit referendum, and criticised the actions of Boris Johnson, who has been fighting for the leave vote.
Blair has always been a strong supporter of the EU and Britain's partnership with it, during his time in office as PM and that support continues today. He expects the turnout in the referendum to be significantly higher than in elections due to the potential repercussions of the vote.
"I think we will remain," Blair admitted during an interview with Bloomberg in London. "But of course it's a referendum; if you look at the opinion polls, it's very close. You've got to be concerned about it."
The former Labour leader also expects that much more people will come out to vote in the referendum than in a normal election.
"I think people do understand it's a decision with seismic consequences," said the 63-year-old.
I think people do understand it's a decision with seismic consequences
Blair has backed the current holder of his former office David Cameron, who appeared last night for the second time on national television for a debate on EU membership. Blair said that he "fought the campaign you would expect from him and you want from him."
The ex-PM has picked out mayor of London Boris Johnson for particular criticism, suggesting that he is rooting for a decision which he does not fully believe in. Johnson had previously said that he had to agonise over the decision of whether to support Brexit or fight it.
"One of the things I find strange is when people say: ‘Look, I had to agonize over this decision,”’ he said. “This is not one of those decisions. This is a decision where you should only be for ‘Leave’ if you’re absolutely clear. If you’re not clear, don’t do it.”
Blair's disdain for Johnson was plain to see during the Bloomberg interview in which, regardless of the Brexit situation, he questioned Johnson's ability to potentially be Prime Minister.