If I come to power, Blair and Brown will not return to government, says Starmer

Sir Keir said he was “looking forward, not back”; When asked about the income of former Labor Prime Ministers such as Gordon Brown. Photo: Jane Barlow/PA

Sir Keir Starmer has poured cold water on the idea of ​​inviting Sir Tony Blair or Gordon Brown back into government, saying he is «excited about the future». , not back.»

The Labor leader told the podcast he wanted to do it «his way, with his team» rather than «running back into history to hug someone».

However, Sir Tony was reported to be working for behind the scenes to help Sir Keir build relationships in the Middle East. The i newspaper reported that he helped convince Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, that Sir Keir was not as anti-Israel as Jeremy Corbyn, his predecessor.

Asked on The News Agents podcast whether Sir Tony or Mr Brown could return if he goes in at No 10, Sir Keir said: “I'm looking forward, not back. I always look forward, not back.

“Since I became Labor leader, almost everyone has asked me which Labor leader do you like best? Which one would you like to have tattooed on your head?

“There are three Labor leaders who brought us from opposition to power — Attlee, Wilson and Blair. They are all very different personalities, and the circumstances in which they fought were different. I want to be fourth on this list.

“The circumstances that I face are different from ’97, from ’64, from ’45, and that’s why I’ll do it my way, with my team, and not kind of run back into history to hug someone -That. »

Sir Tony was reported to have advised Sir Keir on the transition to power. The i newspaper reported that he used contacts he made as envoy to the Middle East for the Quartet of the US, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations between 2007 and 2015.

This included mediation . diplomatic acquaintances and contacts in the Middle East. Sir Tony has an office in Tel Aviv.

A source told i that the former prime minister was working to reassure the Israeli government that the country could expect a consistent approach from the UK if Labor wins the next general election.

The Labor Party did not respond to requests for comment on this story.