Former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair weighed in on British politics early Sunday, following Keir Starmer's sweeping election win, urging him to develop a "strategy for managing immigration." Blair cautioned Starmer, who is set to travel to Scotland on his second day as Prime Minister, that the anti-immigration Reform UK Party represents a challenge not only to the Conservative Party but also to Labour. The Reform UK Party, led by Brexit advocate Nigel Farage, exacerbated the Conservatives' losses by dividing the right-wing vote. It secured five seats in the Westminster Parliament and captured 14% of the vote, prompting Farage to announce plans to target Labour voters next.
In an article titled "My Advice to Keir Starmer" in the Sunday Times, Blair observed that "across the Western world, conventional political parties are experiencing disruption." He noted, "Where the system permits new entrants to rise, they are causing chaos everywhere. Consider the situations in France or Italy." Blair emphasized, "We require a strategy for managing immigration. Without regulations, we are left with biases." As the only Labour leader to secure three consecutive election victories, beginning with his own in 1997, Blair framed his advice within an article discussing the potential of artificial intelligence (AI).
He advocated for digital ID technology as the optimal solution for managing irregular immigration, a significant issue during the election campaign. "We should adopt digital ID as the world progresses in that direction. Otherwise, new border controls must be exceptionally effective," Blair wrote. Other recommendations included adopting a "robust new stance on law and order" due to the rapid modernization of criminal elements compared to law enforcement. Blair also advised the government to "steer clear of any 'wokeism' vulnerabilities," cautioning against policies perceived as overly politically correct.
In response to Blair's remarks, new Business Minister Jonathan Reynolds did not dismiss the possibility of introducing digital ID cards. "The new Home Secretary will consider all advice on this matter," he told Sky News. "However, I would emphasize that we support the points-based immigration system, and we have made tough decisions, particularly when we believed legal migration was too high and needed to decrease," he added.
