Tony Blair on the future of liberalism 

Like him or not, that was a horrendous introduction to an interview.

Say what you like about him. Britain seemed a lot happier under Blair than the current government.

Amusing that none of the clowns commenting here actually listened to the interview in which they talk about how social media has become a platform for an exchange of abuse and slogans rather than serious argument.

Wtf is this guy doing on a podium

"I think you will find, when death takes its toll all the money you made will never buy back your soul"- Bob Dylan.

congratulations to the economist for designing the most awkward, uncomfortable interview stage I have ever seen

He should become the PM again of his country. Top guy.

Happy birthday tony from italian boy live in rome

Tony Blair, as usual, is intelligent and engaging. Britain is lucky to have politicians of this calibre.

Putting everything aside, he does have some relevant points to make.

Blair minus the Iraq War was not such a bad leader. He understood how markets, risk-taking, the Pareto wealth effect, and the individual selfish gene conjointly worked in a constantly changing, adaptative and complex economic system in the absence of central planning from the authorities. However, the Inheritance Tax and Financial Deregulation accompanied by Financial Institutions led to Moral Hazard coupled with the Irrational Exuberance created a new type of Systemic Risk; and in addition to that, at the Macro level, the BOE Autonomy, and the public sector debt increases to do away with the Boom-Bust Cycle, that came about as a result of economic and social policies, of his poster boy Chancellor, left a bad taste behind. He in my opinion delivered the final blow to Socialism in the UK, on the one hand, by encouraging free enterprise to create wealth, economic inclusion, and social mobility, and on the other hand, rejecting the traditional left-leaning bias against the nanny socialist state style meddling and dabbling in matters which are completely falling within the domain of private life of an individual, was rejected. This admission of guilt, and reformation in the collectivist thought process, that public ownership of economic assets leads to public failure, was a significant paradigm shift that changed centre-left politics across the EU and beyond. His successor Brown was the main culprit who can be described as the architect of Financial Instability, Financial Speculation, and Figure Fudging in the British Economy. Also, the redistribution of wealth, in the form of welfare benefits, which masked the unemployment rate, under the Blair Brown Years, is still debated among economists. The Golden Rule of public borrowing to smoothen out the Business Cyclical Effects, introduced by Brown created massive growth in the money supply and this was mostly used by the financial institutions to increase risk-taking exposures by investing in a casino economy, where lottery-style financial pay off products such as the derivatives and their complex cousins the structured products, led to the damaging of the financial markets, the depositors, the households and the larger economy, in between 1998 and 2008. These casinos aka financial institutions were deregulated with no emphasis on the shaping of policy in light of either financial risk regulation or Macroprudential Advice coming from the FSA. Of course, what followed Northern Rock, was the nationalization of banks during the GFC.

....oh and became a middle eastern peace envoy without a shred of irony !

Populism is not rampant in Europe, some small states mimic Trump's right wing rhetoric, but Germany is still liberal, so without cooperating with Merkel, British opted to leave EU, almost like axing one's own feet.

What really annoys me re the question about uncontrolled immigration is that the mechanism already exists in EU legislation to control that no UK Government has decided to implement it. Germany & Belgium have and they have a harder job of it because they're not Islands like us. If you can't prove you have work or have adequate funds to support you and your family you have to leave, same in Switzerland. UK governments past and present throw the immigration question around like confetti but they all know they've just been too lazy in the past and present to implement the policy that already exists.

I don't really like how at the start he doesn't really answer any of her questions since he basically changed the topic to technology and society. They were very valid questions to be asking and they need discussion.

What on earth was that introduction?

Firstly I like Tony Blair. He is a smart thinker. Secondly this set up looks awkward. Why are they sitting so closely? Look how far the water is ? They have to walk over to get it. Mr Blair then needs to place his glass to the ground. Poor stage management but simple solutions. I should be in show business.

If Boris was in the shoes of Blair with regards to Iraq, he would have done the same, plus a lot worse. It was just unfortunate for Blair (and for May, too) that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He worked with dedication to make peace in Northern Ireland.

Interview Cameron .See if he can put together a sentence!!

People should be viewed upon by their achievements more than their failures.

Great interview. I'm appalled by so negative previous comments. Most of them seem from people who never listen what he said about the difficulty of doing politics and liberalism. I think he is also right about the sad situation where social media has become the pace of big mouths and small brains

Sorry, turned off after that intro. That presenter drove me mad. Imagine interviewing Tony Blair and not having the smaller ego? Amazing.

Tony Blair is toxic. I understand that. And anything he says is likely to be attacked by people hurling abuse at him because of his record, especially on Iraq. Many of the comments on this thread bear witness to that. But in a sense, that underlines one of the points he is making; you are not going to solve the problems the world faces unless you get back to a rational debate and are prepared to listen to people who disagree with you. Just because he made some terrible, tragic misjudgments does not necessarily mean that he has nothing of value to say on any subject. A lot of what he says still makes a lot of sense - unfortunately, the words are coming out of the wrong mouth.

Mr Blair your a war criminal. Thousands have died at your hands. Innocent women children and the sick and frail. How you can smile knowing what you done,is beyond me. You make me ashamed to be British.

I like Tony Blair I really don’t get why people who don’t watch the videos

Bored with this obsession with TB on Iraq. He has lot of interesting stuff to say and made a big difference to the UK. I still remember the absolute relief when this generally moderate, rational person won the election and we escaped the Tories for a bit.

The Great 'Sir Tony Blair" Tory slayer. A title well deserved and long over due. The Greatest living British Statesman.

“Liberal” yeah right, gives true classical liberals a bad name.

Best Prime Minister in my political lifetime so far

One of our kind

War Criminal .

Politicians and liberals elites are most stupid warmongers they will be defeated by new radiation of truth from the center of Galaxy this radiation exposes most evil people like master of worldwide subversions George Soros and other stupid globalists and liberals psychopaths of Gender agenda and LBGT fecal love agenda and other dehumanisation of the NWO.Macron was defeated by French people oposing to NWO agenda. Political party should be dissolved because they are antidemocratic and antihuman. China does not need political parties and still thrive the most.

Did you squirt luv with that bias intro luv ? He is the the worst War Wrime disaster the UK had in charge !

I am intensely relaxed...

Did I just miss the link she pointed out to Bannon talk ? Please direct me, if you may. Thank You, Sir

Listen to what he says about Ukraine… four years before the Russian invasion!

My take on the future; Bush and Blair will never walk down Main St Baghdad hand in hand without an army of heavily armed comandos.

Get this war criminal off the stage

Economic liberalism by trade, but you have to control your own borders and currency or you're not a real country. Most countries in Europe aren't real countries anymore. Thanks Tony.

When conflict of interests increases, you have to shift from liberalism to realism .

You think I spend a life time in politics and I'm gonna tell you what I really think?" - I like his honesty regarding the dishonest nature of politics. Would Boris ever be that honest about keeping the truth under wraps?? Ha ha......

Great . RIGHT, Something that bothered me was those chairs! haha they look so uncomfortable.

Tony Blair is a friend of the United States...and a hero. PERIOD

Ok tony blain is tony blair, but If you actually listen to him he makes a lot of sense here.

Nothing wrong with a strong state, its when that state becomes corrupt, indifferent.

The interviewer looks a bit like Amber Rudd!

A second referendum because the politicians have failed is not the answer ... If the politicians cannot sort it then they are not up to the job, We need a new election and get rid of any politician who's not supporting the democratic vote to leave the EU or not up to the job of creating a UK outside the EU ... Politicians are there to serve the people and the people have decided we want out ... Now get it sorted !!!

“ Neoliberalism “

Spot on

A program on Joe Cox could be meaningful at this juncture. Tony was right when he says " decision divides".

List of Brexit benefits 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Um...

Taxi, Stuttgart, German language, a polite conversation with the driver who then asks, 'you are not German though, where are you from?' to which I answer 'I'm English, and yourself?','I come from Iraq', to which straight away I find myself saying, 'Ich entschuldige mich für Blair', to which he responds 'that's ok' and then we get into the wider truth that politicians like Blair and Hussain are people who only serve themselves and can never truely represent anybody else. I thank you for that alone Tony darling.

Europe can be the fourth giant!!!!

please can I have that in writing. RU-vid good but text is better,

My old Webster's dictionary says liberalism is a belief in autonomy and the rule of law.

I don't know what style of anchoring is this, but she doesn't inspire people to understand core issue. Like she begins with beating around the bush just to make herself sound respectable. Liberalism or not, communism or not, is not about uplifting of people. It's about national interests. Damn it, look how atheist China wants to be buddies with islamist Pakistan or democratic USA favoured authoritarian leaders in Pakistan and Chile (destroying the most vibrant democracy of South America at that time). Today, we talk about protectionism or liberalism. You want world to become equal, as liberalism would say but you also don't want to tell people that this would automatically make share of USA, UK and France smaller and smaller in the global economic pie. People don't choose conservativism because they make a conscious policy decision. They choose it because they don't want to lose dominant political position. You beloved UK didn't want to leave and liberate India while claiming that in struggle for freedom Britain is willing to fight alone, in world War 2. These were not the decisions based on ideals, but plain and simple short term national interests, principles will be created to define the decisions that are once taken based on national self interest.

Why do they keep giving him airtime

GREAT MASTER OF DRUIDS...

Unexpected positive comment! I think he was fine. Realistically, ‘soft conservatism’ was the best move 97-2005. No idea why he went for Iraq though.

Thoughtful

influence = work together

You've got crisis all over the place due to unequal wealth distribution.

Someone give this woman a glass of water. Disturbing levels of mouth noise.

Tony, you are not the leader of people kind. LOL.

I think that was a great introduction (and I’m a huge supporter of the positions of Blair and the Economist.) Don’t fawn, don’t waste time, just get to the point at hand.

Yay for Tony Blair.

Guys give him a break. At least listen to what he's saying here and analyse objectively. He's talking sense here.

Here speaks the Anti-Christ. I'm an Atheist but I am honestly starting to believe it. It's unbelievable that this man is still given a podium and still given respect. Interviewer- 'come on tell me what you really think' Anti-Christ - 'I've spent a life time in politics you really think I'm going to tell you what I really think' Just said in plain English not to believe a word he says. Yet the interview continued. Why?

I can understand what Tony Blair is saying about jobs but does he really believe that from my experience and my situation what I have been told about not being able to get jobs because of foreign people is true and I was not born in the uk

Saying people 'have anxiety' about immigration makes it sound like a mental illness. Did Alistair write that one?

If he is here defending liberalism why in the world is he in the Labour party and why doesn´t he join the Liberal Democrats?

Why do Irish Banks charge over 4% on a Standard rate mortgage, When out of 245,000 have the ability to change. Something is wrong shackels from the past,

Cringe and disgusting future

The Hague's looking very relaxed these days

Someone give her some fucking water

In 1983 at Bow St Magistrates Court a certain Charles Lynton was fined £50 for attempted soliciting in city toilets, the police notes were to disappear later along with several prior verbal warnings, Charles Lynton was at university well known as 'Miranda' a promiscuous cross dresser who played a guitar badly.

Why is this man just walking around after the terrible diaster in england history

ahaha. Look at Mike Gapes' in the background. Pure adoration of Blair.

do better. at least give her training about where the cams at tho :/

disgusting intro. just makes it obvious this isn't anything serious i should concern myself with watching..

England gave the young US a fantastic insight. Single currency and single language. If Europe can do that, they will instantly attain a very high standard of living . The animosity in the comments towards Tony Blair are a waste of time to give any consideration to. Immigrants should be incentivised to speak English and the rest of Europe should realize the profit of common currency. The English TEA should become a world wide phenomena where persons of other cultures are sought out to have tea with. Colored hats should be worn and the police should award lottery tickets to diverse Tea groups.

Is it liberal to shut down debate on EU membership calling those who oppose it racist?

Anyone that has hit 60 years old will be lucky to live healthily another 20 years before they die . Those 60 year olds lived a very diff life than the children living here today jobs were factories and pensions . Healthcare and funeral costs are the only worry for the 60 year olds living in poverty and suffering from austerity

came here to comment and say Tony Blair is a war crim but youtube comments have done me proud this time =) fuck this guy needs to be in jail

Economist why have you got a wrong person on future of liberalism ? Why are we looking at past repeated issues and a old man going through his process and not the process of upcoming future. Heck surely there must be better person than him who is a major key player in the modern and upcoming generation. What did I just said and watched

Duping delight is a particular expression a person will display that betrays sense of enjoyment they are getting out of controlling and deceiving another person ,often seen on the face of a psychopath. (just saying)

What I wantto know is did he go to Jeffrey's Love Island, along with Clinton and Bill Gates?

ACCOMPLICE Definition A person who knowingly, voluntarily, or intentionally gives assistance to another in (or in some cases fails to prevent another from) the commission of a crime. An accomplice is criminally liable to the same extent as the principal. An accomplice, unlike an accessory, is typically present when the crime is committed.

I wish Blair were still chief of the Labour Party - though I'm sure that Labour supporters wouldn't now choose him - pity.

If liberalism in its current form is the answer we are all in serious trouble, the EU has been shown not to have the answers, liberalism not listening and forcing their agenda on everyone has caused a backlash and its well deserved

Had a quick scan through and couldn't see anyone punching him in the teeth, which I presume happened given the number of likes. Can anyone tell me where in the video it happened?

She’s somehow nervous 😬

Wow these questions were excellent.

France is not the UK. And Macrunt is deeply unpopular

Why ask a fascist?

All the issues that he talks about regarding the EU, were the same before we joined. The EU will never change.

he has humour , can laugh about himself and is highly intelligent - comment section full of russian trolls...

He's a master polician - answering to his failures by a deflection to vision of hope and the future of peace, choices, freedom and opportunities.

Approximately 20 years left for majority of 60 years old men and women and quality of life as dementia is going to be up

Has he learnt anything since he was a student? I remember them all from the NUS. Wasters.