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Original poster

To really wish someone other than Tony Blair had asked us to rise up against brexit?

323 replies

DeviTheGaelet · 17/02/2017 14:57

Can't see a thread about this. And yes I know there is a brexit topic but I wanted to post in AIBU to see what people thought. If you don't want to read about brexit and have no opinion click away now.
Tony Blair is urging remainers to rise up against brexit because we didn't know what we were voting for and it's going to be disastrous for the country.
I totally agree it's a disaster and I think it's shocking we can plunge into the unknown when only just over 50% of voters voted for it in an advisory referendum with a campaign based on lies. I've been desperate for a political party to get behind on a remain ticket.
But why the fuck does it have to be Tony Blair, the man who totally ignored strong public feeling on Iraq who says this? Where are the opposition in parliament?

OP posts:
Caprianna · 17/02/2017 21:43

I was against war in Iraq (of course) but rated TB as a PM and his government. I also rated Gordon Brown possibly the only person in the UK to do so? About time there is some opposition and voices against Brexit to at least soften the blow (wishful thinking blow will not be soft).

EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 17/02/2017 21:45

I agree Caprianna

The war was going to happen with Iraq after 9/11 the west had to show their strength I just wish we hadn't been involved

Ankleswingers · 17/02/2017 21:47

I hate Phoney Blair with a passion.

I don't hate many people but I fucking hate him.

He can fuck right off. The man is a prick.

merrymouse · 17/02/2017 21:53

There won't be another referendum before the next general election. For that to happen it would have to be completely clear that an overwhelming number of people have changed their minds about Brexit and that is very unlikely.

However, general elections happen every 5 years. If a party wants to stand on a pro Europe platform, they have every right to do so and people have every right to vote for them. That is democracy.

It would be great if there were somebody other than Blair who could represent the many people who voted against Brexit, but apparently there isn't.

Doowappydoo · 17/02/2017 21:58

I marched against the Iraq war, it was absolutely the wrong thing to do but I don't agree with the continuing demonisation of Tony Blair.

He was (Iraq aside) a good PM who achieved a lot of good and I'm glad he has spoken out. I hope he returns to front line politics.

lottieandmia · 17/02/2017 21:58

I don't accept the vote either. And I will not be told I have to accept it. The uk is going to turn into a shit hole. And it's not as if things are great right now anyway is it. And we haven't even left yet! My love for my children will make me encourage them to move elsewhere.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 17/02/2017 22:00

I hope he returns to front line politics.

He won't. He would be absolutely polarised and attacked plus couldn't make enough money

Rugbyplayersarehot · 17/02/2017 22:04

If anyone could have possibly made things worse or people more entrenched regarding Brexit it was Tony today!

Even more Arrogant and patronising than Corbyn, Abbott, Thornbury etc and they can't even fucking see the irony and that's why Brexit happened in the first place.

Unbelievable labour still can't get in touch with their previous vote voters.

financialiasco · 17/02/2017 22:08

I felt so relieved on hearing about his speech, along with a tiny bit of hope and a sense that at least someone is doing something and speaking out. Corbyn is an absolute disgrace and this reflects so badly on him. Remember his ridiculous posturing about having Blair tried as a war criminal - what a useless cock.

I think Blair (and Brown) did an awful lot for this country - they weren't perfect, but a lot better than what we have had since. People on here keep saying shame he didn't have a referendum before going to war - well since he won an election after the war it's a fair assumption he would have got a positive result had he done so. But people are too busy posturing about how much they hate him, what a liar he is, how awful his family is, to actually consider the facts.

I am sure that if a Tory PM had done what he did with Iraq people wouldn't be filled with such vitriol about it. Obviously Tories don't like him, but I'm sure some on the left are in some subconscious way glad about Iraq (not about the deaths of course) because it gives them a excuse to go on about how much they hate him, despite his being the most successful Labour leader ever, who did deliver a lot of socially progressive policies, whatever people want to believe now.

It beggars belief how Cameron got us into this disastrous situation just to try and save his own neck, did a shit job of it and then swanned off and that is barely mentioned. it's Blair who's enemy of the people, a terrible person etc.

And of course he's right that people didn't know what they were voting for. That's not an insult to their intelligence, it's just a fact as none of the facts were made clear and Cameron didn't lay out what 'Brexit' we were voting for. But Blair makes this very, imo, uncontroversial point and everyone starts frothing 'don't insult my intelligence!' Fucking ridiculous.

That1950sMum · 17/02/2017 22:08

I am a staunch remainer and agree that there should be a second referendum, but surely nobody listens to or respects Tony Blair any more. He's not doing the remain camp any favours.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 17/02/2017 22:12

And of course he's right that people didn't know what they were voting for.

Well that only works if you admit that Remainers didn't know what they voted for either.

Threads on here say things like remain was a vote for things staying as they are. However it wasn't. They won't stay as they are. The EU isn't the same as it was 10 years ago and no one has a crystal ball to see what it will be like I the future.

I say that as a remainer.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 17/02/2017 22:13

I am sure that if a Tory PM had done what he did with Iraq people wouldn't be filled with such vitriol about it.

I disagree there would be just as much vitriol.

EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 17/02/2017 22:13

But he is speaking out it is headline news and forces mp's to discuss an alternative

At the moment that just isn't happening or wasn't

MalletsMallets · 17/02/2017 22:14

I spent the entire time watching it thinking "fuck off blair"
Misled, he's the king of fucking misleading people. Prick.

I genuinely believe brexit will work if people like Blair shut the fuck up with the uncertainty and we make it work. Uncertainty will destroy Britain. Not brexit

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 17/02/2017 22:15

I agree that speaking out is good, I just think it could have been done better.

Can you imagine if Farage had come out and said he wanted people to 'rise up' how much outcry there would have been.

Also having it in The City. Really, really bad idea

Iflyaway · 17/02/2017 22:16

Blair has blood on his hands but I agree with him on this

I agree, and probably the only politician who understands the long-term consequences of it.

There is no saying what Brexit will bring to the UK. Just a bunch of wankers who mislead the public over it.

thank fuck I don't live in UK

EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 17/02/2017 22:16

Agree Piglet

The more I researched how the EU is run the more questions came up and the more I found that I very much disagreed with

But I voted to remain with a hope things would change

TSSDNCOP · 17/02/2017 22:18

If there had been a referendum on the Iraq War, especially based on the information that Blair was genuinely given and had good reason to believe (after all, Hussein had used WMDs to slaughter thousands of his own people i.e. Sarin gas), people would have voted overwhelmingly in favour. But now it seems everyone was always against it because it's trendy to paint Blair as a hate figure.

TSSDNCOP · 17/02/2017 22:19

Posted too soon above and hadn't typed my actual response, which was:

What a load of utter fucking bollocks.

Fingalswave · 17/02/2017 22:20

Agree with Doowoopy Iraq war was absolutely wrong, but 43 or so other countries along with UK agreed it was the right thing to do. And it's easy in theory to go against the USA (who were going in anyway) but in reality if you are PM, you are aware that the UK would be lost defensively without the USA's support. And remember this was in the wake of 9/11 when Blair probably thought a similar attack on the UK was a strong possibility. Also, as pp have pointed out, Blair was elected for a third term after the invasion.

I'm pleased Blair has spoken out and I agree that the advisory referendum need not be, and should not be, binding. Especially given the lies and lack of detail the vote was based on.

And all those saying the doom-mongers were wrong about the economy should remember we haven't left the single market yet and all the benefit s it brings.

TSSDNCOP · 17/02/2017 22:21

And as a Remainer pretender (there has to be money it if for him somewhere) he's nailed that coffin shut too.

Fuck off Tony.

financialiasco · 17/02/2017 22:22

Why is it? I know a lot of people who were always against the war, and at least as many again who were broadly in favour at the time, or didn't have much of an opinion, but who now love a good rant about "Mr Blair, war criminal...has blood on his hands..." etc etc. It's a weird thing how people love to hate him so much, while other politicians get away with so much.

merrymouse · 17/02/2017 22:23

Neither side wanted to campaign on the boring details of customs unions and the single market. They both feared that voters would be bored and confused. Both sides co-opted people with diametrically opposing views with no agreement on what do do post referendum.

It really isn't surprising that we are now in a mess. Cameron has alot to answer for.

PickledCauliflower · 17/02/2017 22:23

No idea why multi millionaire Tony Blair is headlining all day on bbc news.
Has he found those weapons of mass destruction yet?

TSSDNCOP · 17/02/2017 22:24

The similarities between Brexit and Iraq: myth.lies.unknowns.unquantifiables

The difference was that the UN found evidence of an actual number of WMD in Iraq.

How many again?

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