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The Guardian - UK

Politics

Rachel Hall

Blair and former PMs should not act as political ‘figureheads’, says Ed Balls

Ed Balls Emmanuel Macron Tony Blair David Cameron Hay Festival Tony Blair Institute

Ed Balls on television earlier this year. He has previously ruled out his own return to politics. — Ed Balls on television earlier this year. He has previously ruled out his own return to politics. Photograph: Jonathan Hordle/Rex/Shutterstock

Ed Balls has said former prime ministers such as Tony Blair and David Cameron should not attempt to return as “figureheads for the next phase of politics”.

The former cabinet minister’s comments addressed Blair’s upcoming Future of Britain conference, which is seen as an attempt to reinvigorate centrist politics in the UK by taking inspiration from the success of La République En Marche, the recently created centre-left party that brought Emmanuel Macron to power in France.

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