Most Labor would be a 'miracle', says David Blunkett

Lord Blunkett thinks Labor can win but says it will be 'a massive hard fight' Photo: Richard Gardner/Shutterstock

Labor's victory in the next general election will be a 'miracle', said Lord Blunkett.

The Labor grandee said the party's victory in the next national contest was 'by no means a sack» and, while he thought it possible, would be «a massive uphill battle.»

Lord Blunkett, the former Home Secretary, also urged Sir Keir Starmer to show «a little more ambition» about how the Labor government will solve the crisis of migrants crossing the English Channel.

Comments are from Labor. remained well ahead of the Conservative Party in double digits.

The Opinium poll, conducted from 16 to 18 August, gave Labor a 15-point lead. Redfield & A Wilton Strategies poll taken on 13 August gave Labor a 20-point lead, while a Deltapoll poll taken between 9 and 11 August gave Labor a 17-point lead.

Despite strong and stable results in the poll, Lord Blunkett expressed caution about Labor's chances of forming a majority government after the next election.

In an interview with the BBC Radio 4 Westminster Hour, he said: «I think Keir Starmer did two important things. First, he dealt with internal conflicts and destructive elements within the Labor Party.

«Secondly, he laid out a program of change, albeit a cautious one at the moment.»

Lord Blunkett called. to Sir Keir Starmer to show «a little more ambition»; about the migration crisis. Photo: Stephan Russo/Pennsylvania.

When asked if the election victory was «in the bag» for Labour, Lord Blunkett replied: «It is by no means in the bag.»

He added: «I'm an optimist, having been in the Labor Party for almost 60 years, but I believe we can do it, but it's going to be a massive uphill battle and if we get an absolute majority, I really believe miracles happen.»

Labour has been sharply critical of the government's approach to the small boat problem, denouncing the policy of flying migrants from Rwanda and accusing ministers of putting forward «tricks» rather than workable solutions.

Lord Blunkett was asked whether he thinks Labor is currently in the right place in terms of its immigration policy.

“I would like a little more ambition in terms of how we could work with the French in the way I described,” he said.

“I think we need to be more clear about the resettlement routes that we would create.

“And sometimes we need to be a little tougher with the government about the fact that they are quite happy with 150,000 people coming from Hong Kong or under significant pressure to deal with the influx people from Ukraine.”

Lord Blunkett suggested that the UK convince France to implement a licensing scheme to make it harder to buy, sell or store boats that could be used for migrants’ passage crossings.

He said: “I think if we could use some of the £400 million we give the French every year to help them set up a licensing system so that no one can buy a boat, keep a boat or sell a boat without a license.< /p>

«This will allow them to intervene at a much earlier stage than sticking a knife into a rubber boat on the shore when they stumble upon them.»

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