Moderates must retake UK opposition: Blair

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair had some harsh words for his own Labour Party on Wednesday (December 18): your brand of - quote - "quasi-revolutionary socialism" has failed - and its time to change, or face the dustbin of history.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, TONY BLAIR, SAYING:

"The takeover of the Labour Party by the far left turned it into a glorified protest movement with cult trimmings utterly incapable of being a credible government. The result has brought shame on us. We let our country down. To go into an election at any time with such a divergence between party and people is unacceptable. To do it at a time of national crisis, when a credible opposition is so essential to the national interest, is unforgivable... The choice for Labour is to renew itself as the serious progressive, non-conservative competitor for power in British politics or retreat from such an ambition, in which case it will be replaced."

Blair was the party's most successful election winner - a stark contrast to the UK's most recent vote, where Labour and its current leader Jeremy Corbyn witnessed the fall of its so-called 'red wall," its historic heartland of faithful voters - and its worst defeat since 1935.

Outgoing leader Corbyn has now called for a period of reflection, though a battle is now underway for control of the party with his hard-left loyalists unwilling to let go.

Blair also blames Corbyn's complicated and murky stance on Brexit for Labour's failure, saying the party's - quote - "almost comic indecision" alienated both Leave and Remain voters.