Oh dear! Corbyn ally bashes Blair for City speech – despite Jezza also speaking there
A KEY member of Jeremy Corbyn's shadow cabinet mocked Tony Blair for giving an anti-Brexit speech in the City – despite other members of the shadow cabinet giving recent addresses in the "heart of banking".
Blair: People voted without knowledge of terms of Brexit
On Friday morning the former prime minister delivered a major speech at Bloomberg's Moorgate headquarters in the Square Mile calling for Remainers to “rise up” against Brexit and launch a bid to reverse the EU referendum result.
However, members of the party Mr Blair used to lead were quick to criticise their former leader after he said the party's weakness had helped facilitate Brexit.
On Twitter, Richard Burgon, shadow justice secretary, wrote: “Tony Blair seems to feel economic and political institution that is the EU is perfect and referendum shouldn’t count.
“Labour right to disagree.
A key Corbyn ally mocked Blair for Bloomberg speech despite his leader doing the same
Tony Blair seems to feel economic and political institution that is the EU is perfect
“Addressing UK from heart of banking, Tony Blair uses his formidable oratorical skills to argue referendum shouldn’t count.
“He’s wrong.
“Blair was one of the most able political communicators of his age.
“As PM, mostly right. But several times, his judgement equals direst consequences.”
The MP for East Leeds, who describes himself as a “socialist”, has been a key backer of Mr Corbyn since he was elected Labour leader in 2015.
Shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer also addressed an audience at the publication's office
Peter Allen: Blair's speech is an irrelevance and distraction
However, Mr Burgon seemed to have forgotten recent speeches given in the City, at the exact same venue, by Mr Corbyn and shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer.
Last December, Sir Keir warned the Government will not be “given a blank cheque” on Brexit during an address at Bloomberg HQ.
And in September Mr Corbyn told the audience at Bloomberg to look to Norway for lessons on Brexit.