The Guardian view on Tony Blair’s speech: the message not the messenger

Report of a speech 'Europe - a very good reason to vote Labour' by ex-United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair on the 7 April 2015 as part of the 2015 General Election campaign on behalf of the Labour Party.

Mr Blair said that the Conservative Party pledge under Prime Minister David Cameron's to hold a referendum on Britain's EU membership would cause economic 'chaos' and uncertainty.

He said 'For me Europe is an important litmus test. I believe passionately that leaving Europe would leave Britain diminished in the world, do significant damage to our economy and, less obviously but just as important to our future, would go against the very qualities that mark us out still as a great global nation'.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: United Kingdom general election, 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/united-kingdom-general-election-2015/

EurActiv, 08.04.15: EU referendum would cause chaos, says Blair http://www.euractiv.com/sections/uk-europe/eu-referendum-would-cause-chaos-says-blair-313579

EUObserver, 08.04.15: Business leaders back Blair warning on referendum 'chaos' https://euobserver.com/beyond-brussels/128260

BBC News, 07.04.15: Tony Blair says EU vote plan would cause economic chaos http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32198938

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

The Office of Tony Blair: News, 07.04.15: Tony Blair: Europe - a very good reason to vote Labour http://www.tonyblairoffice.org/news/entry/tony-blair-europe-a-very-good-reason-to-vote-labour/

Deutsche Welle, 07.04.15: Tony Blair criticizes Conservatives over EU referendum http://dw.de/p/1F3YL

Blog: Open Europe, 07.04.15: Tony Blair is wrong, ducking an EU referendum will not reduce the chance of #Brexit – EU reform might http://openeurope.org.uk/blog/tony-blair-is-wrong-ducking-an-eu-referendum-will-not-reduce-the-chance-of-brexit-eu-reform-might/

Conservative Home, 08.04.15: Five reasons why Labour can’t be trusted on the EU (by Mark Wallace) http://www.conservativehome.com/leftwatch/2015/04/five-reasons-why-labour-cant-be-trusted-on-the-eu.html

BNE: Press Release, 07.04.15: British exit from EU would have hugely damaging and long-lasting consequences http://www.bnegroup.org/media/press-releases/british-exit-from-eu-would-have-hugely-damaging-and-long-lasting-consequenc/

EurActiv, 14.04.15: Labour launches manifesto, with promise to stand up for Britain in Europe http://www.euractiv.com/sections/elections/labour-launches-manifesto-promise-stand-britains-interests-europe-313738

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