Democracy happened, Tony! Jeremy Corbyn slaps down 'unhelpful' Blair as he vows to respect the Brexit vote as Labour say they are confident they will stop Ukip taking Stoke stronghold in bitter by-election 

  • Jeremy Corbyn has laid into the former Labour leader for meddling with Brexit 
  • Mr Blair called for a cross-party effort to stop Article 50 being invoked 
  • The current opposition leader told him to 'respect the result' of the referendum 

Jeremy Corbyn arriving at Warwick University, where he blasted Tony Blair

Jeremy Corbyn arriving at Warwick University, where he blasted Tony Blair

Jeremy Corbyn has blasted 'unhelpful' Tony Blair for calling on pro-Europeans to form a cross-party rebellion in a desperate last-ditch attempt to block Brexit.

The Labour leader urged his former boss to 'respect the result' of the vote to leave and to put his energy towards building relations in Europe, saying 'democracy happened.'

Mr Corbyn, who was quizzed on the comments after addressing Labour's local government conference at Warwick University, told reporters: 'Well, it's not helpful.

'I would ask those to think about this - the referendum gave a result, gave a very clear decision on this, and we have to respect that decision, that's why we didn't block Article 50.

'But we are going to be part of all this campaigning, all these negotiations about the kind of relationship we have in Europe in the future.'

He added: 'The referendum happened, let's respect the result. Democracy happened, respect the result.'

Mr Blair, speaking at the London headquarters of Bloomberg on Friday, suggested that the Labour Party had aided Brexit and called for a cross-party effort in the absence of an effective opposition.

Jeremy Corbyn meets Margot Dallimie, aged 11 months and her mother Libby Wilkinson, as he campaigns on the streets of Longton in the Stoke-On-Trent Central By-election with Labour candidate Gareth Snell

Jeremy Corbyn meets Margot Dallimie, aged 11 months and her mother Libby Wilkinson, as he campaigns on the streets of Longton in the Stoke-On-Trent Central By-election with Labour candidate Gareth Snell

The Labour leader, who urged his former boss to 'respect the result' of the vote to leave and to put his energy towards building relations in Europe, takes a selfie with supporters

The Labour leader, who urged his former boss to 'respect the result' of the vote to leave and to put his energy towards building relations in Europe, takes a selfie with supporters

A local resident is delighted to meet the Labour party leader while he was out and about

A local resident is delighted to meet the Labour party leader while he was out and about

'The debilitation of the Labour Party is the facilitator of Brexit. I hate to say that, but it is true,' the former Prime Minister said.

'What this means is that we have to build a movement which stretches across party lines; and devise new ways of communication.'

But Mr Corbyn said: 'I don't quite know what Tony means there.

'Our party membership has more than doubled, we had a big campaign to remain and reform the European Union.

Mr Blair, speaking at Bloomberg's headquarters in London, is plotting a last-ditch attempt to block Brexit

Mr Blair, speaking at Bloomberg's headquarters in London, is plotting a last-ditch attempt to block Brexit

'We are now pursuing a policy which will try and protect jobs and conditions across this country but also maintain a good relationship with colleagues across Europe.'

He added: 'We are going to be outside the European Union. We are not leaving the continent of Europe, we are still going to work with them.

'I think it would be helpful if people put their energies in the direction of building those good relations and ensuring we have a viable economy, not some offshore tax haven bargain basement, doing deals with Trump's America.'

Mr Corbyn said he would ensure the Labour party respects the results of the referendum.

He said: 'My job is to take our party forward into an investment-led economy that reduces inequality in this country, that builds houses when people need them, that gets the good jobs people need in the hi-tech industries the National Investment Bank will fund.

'Get on board with that strategy.' 

Mr Corbyn was speaking while taking time out from campaigning for his candidate Gareth Snell, and the party is confident it can secure the seat following the unrest around rivals Ukip.

Vernon Coaker, the MP for Gedling, who was also helping with campaigning efforts, told the Guardian: 'We are positive. It's been a tough fight with Ukip but Paul Nuttall's claims have come up on the doorstep. 

'All of those things about Hillsborough and his home address have been raised. We have taken the battle and the fight to Ukip, we haven't just stood back and let them say things. We are also highlighting the impact of a Tory government on Stoke.'