News / EU / Foreign Policy

EU reforms can change UK minds on Brexit: Tony Blair

Friday, 02 March 2018 10:18 AM [ Last Update: Friday, 02 March 2018 10:20 AM ]

Former British prime minister Tony Blair smiles as he arrives to greet Pope Francis at St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, on September 13, 2017. (AFP photo)

Former UK prime minister Tony Blair has urged European Union leaders to reform the EU so British people "change their mind" about Brexit, saying Britain will lose its influence if it exits the bloc.

Speaking at the European Policy Centre in Brussels on Thursday, Blair argued that if "comprehensive" immigration reforms are offered, Brexit can then be "averted" via another referendum, this time on the final deal reached with the EU.

"Britain without Europe will lose weight and influence. But Europe without Britain will be smaller and diminished. And both of us will be less than we are and much less than we could be together," Blair said.

"And Europe, to retain the ability to protect its interests and values, will need to form a strong bloc with the power collectively to do what no European nation alone will be able to do individually," he said about a time when the "west would no longer dominate".

Blair told EU leaders they should treat Brexit as a "wake-up call" and meaningful reform could change British people's minds about leaving the EU.

"Europe knows it needs reform. Reform in Europe is key to getting Britain to change its mind," he said.

PressTV-Tony Blair calls for second Brexit referendum

Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair urges the Labour party leadership to back his call for a second referendum on Brexit.

Brexit campaigners dismissed his remarks.

"Former prime ministers who no longer believe in our great nation are engaged in a desperate last ditch attempt to defy the largest democratic mandate ever in the UK," said Richard Tice, co-chair of Leave Means Leave, a pro-Brexit, Eurosceptic political pressure group.

Blair, who was UK's leader from 1997 to 2007, has called for a second referendum on whether Britain was still willing to leave the bloc.

In Britain’s 2016 referendum, 52 percent, or 17.4 million people, voted to leave the EU while 48 percent, or 16 million, voted to stay.

British Prime Minister Theresa May insists Britain will leave the EU in March 2019 and there will be no rerun of the Brexit referendum.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk