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"Today's #GDP growth figures are still a long way from @Keir_Starmer's target of 2.5% and it is far from clear that we are heading in the right direction."

"Labour are promising to be the fastest-growing country in the G7. And our growth forecast is 2% or less every single year of this parliament? Yeah, good luck with that."

"The economy is expected to grow by just over 1 per cent this year, rising to 2 per cent in 2025."

Research shows that "deep alignment with the EU on goods and services will deliver 2.2% economic growth to the UK."

"Closer ties with the EU could deliver growth of up to 2.2%. Clawing back up to half the damage caused by Brexit."

Will the UK Economy Grow By 2% GDP In a Year Under Labour?

Former British Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair, who as Labour Party leader secured three election wins before stepping down in 2007, launched a wide-ranging critique of the current Labour government in an essay published on Tuesday.

Former British Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair, who as Labour Party leader secured three election wins before stepping down in 2007, launched a wide-ranging critique of the current Labour government in an essay published on Tuesday.

Coming off the back of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/reform-uk-surges-labour-routed-in-england-elections">disappointing local election results for Labour</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/starmer-refuses-to-quit-amid-labour-revolt">triggering a wave of resignations</a> and calls for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to resign, the nearly 5,700-word essay argued the party needed a "fundamental reset" if it was to prevail at the next general election.

Coming off the back of disappointing local election results for Labour, triggering a wave of resignations and calls for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to resign, the nearly 5,700-word essay argued the party needed a "fundamental reset" if it was to prevail at the next general election.

"The government's principal problem isn't Keir's personality. Or a failure to communicate 'our achievements.' Or a need to assert more strongly Labour's 'values,'" Blair said. "It is because we don’t have a worked-out, coherent plan for the country in a fast-changing world and are in the wrong political position from which we can devise one and win a second term."

"The government's principal problem isn't Keir's personality. Or a failure to communicate 'our achievements.' Or a need to assert more strongly Labour's 'values,'" Blair said. "It is because we don’t have a worked-out, coherent plan for the country in a fast-changing world and are in the wrong political position from which we can devise one and win a second term."

Blair took aim at number of policies enacted during the current Labour government — including the rise in National Insurance, the new workers' rights, the net-zero agenda and the phasing out Britain's oil and gas industry — describing the moves as undermining business confidence and giving "headwinds not tailwinds" to the private sphere.

Blair took aim at number of policies enacted during the current Labour government — including the rise in National Insurance, the new workers' rights, the net-zero agenda and the phasing out Britain's oil and gas industry — describing the moves as undermining business confidence and giving "headwinds not tailwinds" to the private sphere.

He argued that for Labour to be successful, it needs to define a vision for the country and should not look to move to the left or the right, but take up the mantle of the "radical center." He laid out 10 agenda points that the party could follow, with an embrace of AI, planning reform and deregulation, as well as a pursuit of cheap energy topping the list.

He argued that for Labour to be successful, it needs to define a vision for the country and should not look to move to the left or the right, but take up the mantle of the "radical center." He laid out 10 agenda points that the party could follow, with an embrace of AI, planning reform and deregulation, as well as a pursuit of cheap energy topping the list.

"Without an agenda of this nature, radical but sensible, Britain will continue its long slide towards relegation from the Premier League of nations," the former leader said.

"Without an agenda of this nature, radical but sensible, Britain will continue its long slide towards relegation from the Premier League of nations," the former leader said.

Blair's intervention is deeply unhelpful. Not only does he criticize the government's biggest accomplishments, he suggests moving closer to Trump while recommending ditching responsible climate policies in pursuit of cheap energy. All in all, it shows just how out of touch the former prime minister is.

Blair's intervention is deeply unhelpful. Not only does he criticize the government's biggest accomplishments, he suggests moving closer to Trump while recommending ditching responsible climate policies in pursuit of cheap energy. All in all, it shows just how out of touch the former prime minister is.

Blair has said the obvious: that Starmer has no plan for Britain. The former prime minister also rightly pointed out that the country cannot expect to grow its GDP while pursuing a range of policies the hobble businesses. He also made the obvious point that Britain was wrong to leave its biggest ally in the U.S. in the lurch on Iran. This is further embarrassment for Labour.

Blair has said the obvious: that Starmer has no plan for Britain. The former prime minister also rightly pointed out that the country cannot expect to grow its GDP while pursuing a range of policies the hobble businesses. He also made the obvious point that Britain was wrong to leave its biggest ally in the U.S. in the lurch on Iran. This is further embarrassment for Labour.

There's an 84% chance that Keir Starmer will cease to be Prime Minister of the U.K. during 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There's an 84% chance that Keir Starmer will cease to be Prime Minister of the U.K. during 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

UK: Tony Blair Says Labour Needs 'Fundamental Reset'

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