Tony Blair has suggested “rational” voters will listen to Barack Obama’s warnings about the dangers of Britain leaving the European Union.
In an intervention in the referendum campaign, the former prime minister said he believed the country would “do the sensible thing” and vote to stay in.
Blair also insisted the wave of immigration from eastern European countries that took place under his premiership had not been a problem for the UK because the migrants contributed more in taxes then they took in benefits.
In an interview for Bloomberg TV in Los Angeles, he said: “When you look at the polls, they’re pretty evenly matched. But my best instinct about this is that the country will do the sensible thing and stay in the EU.
“If we were to leave it would put a level of economic insecurity into the ordinary family household that I think most people would think is a foolish risk to take. But I have to say, I look at politics around the world these days and it’s in an unpredictable state.
“If you’re rational, the view of the president of the most powerful country in the world and our biggest ally should matter. When someone like President Obama comes, I think it’s important we know his view. It does count.
“Personally, I do not feel that the immigration from eastern Europe was a problem for Britain. I think those people contribute far more in taxes than they ever take in benefits. They’re hard-working people, they’re good members of our community. And the benefit of having eastern Europe in the EU is enormous.”
President Obama used a visit to London last month to warn that Britain would be at “the back of the queue” for US trade deals if it quit the EU.
After talks with the prime minister, David Cameron, he insisted the UK would not be able to strike a free trade deal with the US “any time soon” because Washington’s focus would be on reaching agreement with Brussels.
The comments sparked a furious backlash from the Brexit camp, which claimed the US president was “doing the bidding of Cameron” and accused him of “hypocrisy” for intervening in the British campaign.
Blair also said the antisemitism controversy had been a “difficult time” for the party.
The former prime minister told Bloomberg TV in Los Angeles: “I know I speak for the overwhelming majority of Labour party members when I say there’s absolutely no place for antisemitism in our party.
“On the contrary, we have always been strong and powerful campaigners against that type of prejudice and that type of poison. It’s been a difficult time, but let’s have this inquiry take its course, and I’m sure we’ll come out with some very strong conclusions on this.”
