Tony Blair: If you don't want to listen to me, don't listen
The Scottish First Minister, boosted by Mr Blair's declaration that Brexit has helped the Scottish independence campaign, took to Twitter to compliment the former’s Prime Minister’s speech as “quality”.
Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: “Not his biggest fan, but there's a quality of analysis & argument in Blair's speech today that has been totally lacking from Labour to date.”
She later said Mr Blair, who used the speech to announce he would be leading an “opposition” against Brexit, was “just stating the obvious”.
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She said: “I think Tony Blair, in this respect, is just stating the obvious.
The Scottish independence argument is now very different than it was, even in 2014
“The independence argument is now very different than it was, even in 2014, and is more compelling than it was in 2014.
“What Brexit has shown is that, within the UK, Scotland’s voice isn’t listened to and doesn’t appear to count for much.
“So the argument for taking control, taking charge of our own future, our own society and our place in the world becomes even more strong.”
Despite Ms Sturgeon’s comments, Mr Blair was slated for his speech yesterday from critics across the political spectrum.
Nigel Farage mocked him at yesterday’s Ukip conference and compared him to an ageing boxer desperate for one last, money-spinning fight.
Mr Blair was only going to get “knocked out in the first round”, the former Ukip leader said.
To cheers and laughter, Mr Farage said: “At the end of the day, Blair will be on the canvas!”
Even Labour took a swing at their former leader, with shadow Brexit minister Jenny Chapman saying the opposition to the European Union divorce “won’t help”.
With next week’s by-election in Stoke set to be a close affair, the panicked MP said: “I don’t think that is where the majority of the country is, whether they voted leave or remain.
“Especially outside of London, I don’t think that’s going to cut much ice.”
She added the timing of his car-crash speech was "interesting".