Britain's Former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who led three Labour governments to victory, has waded into the general election campaign with an attack on the Conservative's promise to hold a referendum on membership of the European Union.
He gave an impassioned speech.... but many people wanted to know more about the relationship between Blair and current Labour leader Ed Miliband who has taken the party back to its traditional leftwing roots. The former leader also threw his backing behind Ed Miliband as the UK election is just one month away. From London, Catherine Drew reports.
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The Guardian newspaper described him as being like an embarrassing aging relative that only gets invited to the wedding to avoid awkward questions about why he wasn't there.
Tony Blair did win three general elections for the labour party... in 1997, 2001, 2005 but little has been seen of him on the domestic scene since he retired in 2007....so the decision to have him attack the conservatives for their promise of an EU membership referendum must have been taken at the highest levels in labour.
Once on the stage, the former leader was relaxed as he accused Prime Minister David Cameron of trading national interest for political advantage as the Conservatives try to win back voters who have defected to the anti-immigration UKIP party.
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Blair and Miliband has have well known differences ...as the current leader sought to distance the labour party from blairism and what was called new labour in the late 1990s...so many of hte questions for mr blair cnetred on his relationship with his successor.... he was asked whether he thought Ed miliband was embarassed to be seen with him.
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The Conservatives have dismissed the Blair attack, saying they are are putting the country first by seeking a vote.
David Cameron insisted the British people should have a say on EU membership.
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THIS DEspite the fact that David Cameron will lobby against a leaving hte EU... but has said that Britan's membership terms need to be renogitated...soemthing that has not been welcomed by other EU members.
All this debate was welcomed by the man who at the very centre of it... UKIP leader Nigel Farage, who's UK indpendence party has promised to leave the EU.
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With just a month to go before the general election, the electorate can expect to hear more about the UK's membreship and role in Europe... one major party has promised a referendum but is against leaving and the other one is against the referendum. This is an argument that is sure to run on.
Catherine Drew, sign off, London