Blair stars in a night to forget for Labour . . .

AFTER tony Blair’s speech in his former constituency of Sedgefield last week, the former PM made an appearance at a low-key private fundraising dinner for 15 Labour target seats.

But despite the fact that Blair has a record of three general election victories, only one Shadow Cabinet minister, Chuka Umunna, could be bothered to attend.

the dashing Shadow Business Secretary is being mentored by Lord Mandelson, the former Blairite Cabinet minister, who wants to see him as the next Labour leader.

the programme for the dinner, held in an Indian banquet hall in less-than-glamorous Morden High Street, South London, was littered with errors and even misspelt Umunna’s name. A clearly uncomfortable Blair namechecked ed Miliband only once, devoting his speech instead to his own achievements.

Bizarrely, Blair shared a stage with musician Steve Brookstein, who won the first X factor ten years ago but whose career sank even faster than Blair’s popularity. Brookstein’s last record (he had a box full of them to give away) is an apt metaphor for Blair in the eyes of the current Labour Party. It’s called the forgotten Man.

ONE of many critics of Blair’s appearance on the election trail was George Galloway, who is fighting to retain Bradford West for the respect party. He said: ‘Blair dripping with blood, pockets stuffed with gold beyond dreams of avarice, comes out fighting for new Labour.’

Galloway is one to talk. Last year he earned £303,000 in addition to his MP’s salary, mostly from £1,600an-hour appearances on Iran’s Press TV and russia today.