Tony Blair Mark II

sir – Labour never took defeat well, and the calls for a Tony Blair Mark II show a determination to learn nothing.

Mr Blair was fortunate to have an opposition in transition, as its old guard, dating back to the days of Harold Macmillan, was finally cleared out. He won three general elections by buying off fickle southern Tory voters, at the expense of the welfare of his party’s old heartlands, under the arrogant presumption that they had no other choice.

The result was that the British National Party became the most successful far-right party in British electoral history. By 2007, the Scottish National Party had taken over Holyrood and Scottish Labour began hurtling towards extinction. All this, and the rise of Nigel Farage, was hitherto considered unthinkable. These were but final warnings. Now Labour has reaped what its post-1945 arrogance and betrayal have sown. Mark Boyle

Johnstone, Renfrewshire