Blair rules out return to frontline politics

Tony Blair has said he cannot return to frontline politics because parts of the media would “move to destroy mode”.

But the former prime minister said he is so “dismayed” by the current state of Western politics that he intends to play a significant role behind the scenes in shaping the political landscape.

Following mounting speculation about a possible comeback, Mr Blair said he will work to revive the “progressive centre or centre left” but has “no intention” of returning to the coalface of British politics.

In an interview with the New Statesman magazine, Mr Blair said: “What I’m doing is to spend more time not in frontline politics, because I have no intention of going back to the front line of politics, to correct another misunderstanding.