Arch-Remainer Tony Blair today described Brexit as a ‘self harming act’ as he suggested Britain could stay in the EU.
The former Prime Minister said quitting the Brussels bloc is going to ‘diminish’ the UK and harm the economy.
And asked directly if Britain can ‘undo Brexit’ he suggested the historic vote could be undone once the final deal is thrashed out.
The ex Labour leader took to the stage in New York to deliver his gloomy views on Brexit in the latest in a string of interventions by him to challenge the vote.
In a talk at the Concordia annual summit, he compared the vote to leave the EU with the election of Donald Trump.
Tony Blair, pictured today in New York, said quitting the EU is a slef harming act that will leave the UK poorer and diminished on the world stage
He said: ‘I think the drivers behind Brexit and Donald Trump were largely the same.
‘A large section of people feel culturally alienated – issues with immigration for example – and economically alienated.
‘Communities have fallen behind.’
He blamed this on the economic crash and a sense of anger at social and wealth inequality.
But he said quitting the Brussels club will harm Britain’s economy and diminish us on the world stage.
He said: ‘I think it is a defining decision for the UK
‘To take ourselves out of our biggest political union and commercial market right on our doorstep…I think is going to diminish us.
‘We will come through it – we are a great country and a great people. We will survive.
‘But I think if it is something we can avoid, we should.’
He added: ‘Don’t take the self-harming act of cutting us out of the largest market we are selling into.’
Asked directly if he think it is possible to ‘undo Brexit’ he said he did not know – but suggested the vote could be reversed.
The former Prime Minister also took a swipe at Donald Trump by saying he would not tweet out his political thoughts and decisions the way the US President does
He said: ‘We have got to respect the vote. On the other hand I would say to people Brexit is a bit like agreeing a house swap when you haven’t seen the other house.
‘You can agree in principle ‘I want to move out’ but when you actually see the other house and see the neighbourhood you may change your mind.
‘So as these negotiations proceed, lets see what the terms of this relationship are s o we can compare the existing relationship with the EU with what’s on offer.
‘That is a different decision with a different quality of decision making around it.’
He also took a swipe at President Trump’s habit of tweeting his opinions and major political announcements out.
Asked if he was still British PM if he would take to the site in the same way, Mr Blair said ‘er…..no.’
He added: ‘Trying to reduce really complicated things to 140 characters is not productive.’