LABOUR LEADERSHIP HOPEFUL Andy Burnham has promised to respond to former prime minister Tony Blair’s 5,700-word critique of the party.

Blair has warned Labour against forcing out British prime minister Keir Starmer without having a proper policy agenda to follow him, as he launched a criticism of the UK government’s time in office.

The former British prime minister, who is the only Labour leader to win three general elections, argued that the UK government needs a “fundamental reset” less than two years since it won the election.

Blair said Labour is “lacking a project” and was “playing with the future of the country” in the 5,700-word essay published on Tuesday.

It comes as campaigning in Makerfield continues, with Burnham hopeful of holding the seat for Labour in the byelection on 18 June.

Burnham is expected to challenge Starmer for the leadership if he wins the seat.

Blair praised both Burnham and Wes Streeting – another potential leadership challenger – in his essay.

Labour is defending a 5,399 majority in the constituency on the outskirts of Wigan.

The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change posted a link to the essay on its X social media channel on Tuesday.

In response to the post on X, Burnham today wrote: “This requires a considered response. I will set one out tomorrow.”

This requires a considered response. I will set one out tomorrow.

— Andy Burnham (@AndyBurnhamGM) May 27, 2026

‘Playing with fire’

In his essay, Blair highlighted a number of areas where he disagreed with the UK government since it came into office in July 2024.

Blair, who left office in 2007, said: “The Labour Party is playing with fire; or, more accurately, with its future, and that of the country.”

He went on: “The Government’s principal problem isn’t Keir’s personality. Or a failure to communicate ‘our achievements’. Or a need to assert more strongly Labour’s ‘values’.

“It is because we don’t have a worked out, coherent plan for the country in a fast-changing world and are in the wrong political position from which we can devise one and win a second term.

“The Government is governing from an essentially traditional Labour ‘soft left’ position, parked firmly in the party’s comfort zone.”

He said the UK government should not have stopped the US from using its RAF bases during the attacks on Iran.

Blair also said the UK government should do “whatever it takes” to stop the small boats crisis and laid out a 10-point plan for the future of government. In it, he emphasised the impact of AI on society, and urged action to be taken on it.

He said: “Without an agenda of this nature, radical but sensible, Britain will continue its long slide towards relegation from the Premier League of nations.”

"Back to the 70s?"

Former PM Sir Tony Blair questions Andy Burnham's comments on '40 years of neoliberalism', and says there 'wasn't enough explanation' by Sir Keir Starmer why Jeremy Corbyn's Labour leadership was wrong. pic.twitter.com/JhoF2LtuVy

— BBC Radio 4 Today (@BBCr4today) May 27, 2026

And while he praised investment in infrastructure, planning reforms and immigration policies, Blair criticised a supposed “acceleration of net-zero” and the phasing out of British oil and gas.

“At a minimum, the Government should try to limit the effect of the changes made and, as we have argued consistently, remove those parts of the net-zero agenda which prioritise clean energy over cheaper energy; and from now on make sure the actions match the words on growth.”

Despite backing Remain in the Brexit referendum, and later a second vote, Blair cautioned against a push to rejoin the European Union.

Instead, he said both should work on areas of shared interest, including defence and energy.

“The truth is that Britain has lost from Brexit. But so has Europe,” he said.

“We’re both weaker without the other. But we can’t go back to cohabitation unless on a basis which enhances our capabilities, economic and political, and does not undermine them – and that goes for both of us.”