TONY Blair has insisted his new Future of Britain project would not morph into a political party.
The former Prime Minister hosted the conference in central London on Thursday, which featured speakers such as former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson, ex-minister Rory Stewart, and the MoneySavingExpert Martin Lewis.
The event, partly organised by the Tony Blair Institute, sparked rumours the former Labour leader was plotting a return to politics when details of the conference emerged last month.
It was suggested Blair hoped to capture the centre-ground of British politics and observers noted that French President Emmanuel Macron’s party had similar origins before propelling him to power.
Blair addressed the rumours at the event, saying there were two main political parties in the UK and adding: “I don’t see that changing.”
He also claimed that Brexit would not be reversed any time soon and praised Boris Johnson’s climate change policies.
“It is not that everything that the Government is doing is wrong, but it is not nearly enough to see us through,” Blair said.
We previously reported how Davidson was tipped to appear at the event, organised in part by the Britain Project and the youth organisation My Life My Say.
Its organisers fiercely denied rumours a new party was in the works.
Davidson also rubbished suggestions she was planning a return to politics, replying to our story about the event on Twitter: “A new party? I'm sitting on a panel at a conference for 60 mins (which I could have told them if they'd asked). I do easily a few dozen similar a year.”
Also appearing are ex-BBC presenters Jon Sopel and Emily Maitlis, who left the broadcaster last year reportedly after being offered better pay at media giant Global.
