Blair warns of Tory EU ‘chaos’

FORMER PRIME minister Tony Blair has entered the election fray to warn that David Cameron’s promise of an EU referendum risks economic chaos.

In a speech in his former Sedgefield constituency, Mr Blair said Ed Miliband had shown “real leadership” in refusing to offer an in/out poll on Europe and voiced “respect” for his decision to resist pressure to match Mr Cameron’s pledge.

The former PM said that he did not think that Mr Cameron really believes the UK should leave the EU, insisting that the offer of a referendum by 2017 was a political manoeuvre to placate the Conservative right wing and Ukip.

Mr Blair said: “I believe passionately that leaving Europe would leave Britain diminished in the world, do significant damage to our economy and, less obviously but just as important to our future, would go against the very qualities that mark us out still as a great global nation.”

Simply knowing that a referendum was to be held would cause “chaos” in the business community, and a vote to leave the EU would cause “the most intense period of business anxiety” since the Second World War, warned Mr Blair.

Responding, Mr Cameron said the former prime minister was wrong.

He told the BBC: “Because what I’m doing is putting the country first and saying the people of the UK should be able to have a choice about whether they want to stay in Europe on a reformed basis or leave.

“It’s an in-out referendum by the end of 2017. It’s right for our country and it’s right for Europe, too.”

PA. Tony Blair does not support an EU referendum.