Blair: EU is now about power, not peace

Mr Blair says that British people “awoke” to the danger of Scotland leaving the UK right at the end of the referendum campaign, when it was almost too late. He said that British people realised “how close we had come to relegating ourselves from the Premier League of nations.

He added that without Europe Britain could not maintain its influence and its power: “and of course it involves ceding or pooling some sovereignty but it does so in order to gain sovereign power over decision that in the reality of 21st Century geo-politics we will only exercise in concert with other nations.”

He says that the “anti-Europe” faction in British politics argues that Britain can “take back” freedom but that it is only through alliances that countries are able to enlarge their freedom and power.

The EU, he says is an idea which was born out of war, is now not about peace, but power, he adds.