In an article in the Daily
Telegraph, Mr Blair said: "There is going to be a negotiation of
extraordinary complexity where there are a thousand devils in every detail.
Those we used to call 'our European partners' are, unsurprisingly, divided and
uncertain themselves."
The former prime minister Tony Blair has called for
"serious statesmanship" in negotiations of "extraordinary
complexity" to determine the terms of Britain's EU exit.
The former prime minister
urged the candidates to replace David Cameron to act with "genuine
patriotic regard" to the country's future as he accepted his own party was
"effectively disabled".
He said some countries
wanted a quick divorce, while others favoured a delay in enacting the Article
50 process, which starts a two-year countdown to Brexit.
"This needs serious
statesmanship," he said.
"So before any formal
negotiation begins, we need to get a high level sense of where the boundaries
are going to be, the things that might be compromised, the things that are red
lines.
"The psychology of the
other 27 countries is crucial to feel and shape: they could decide that other
secessionist movements should be deterred and so be disinclined to flexibility;
or they could decide that the British view - especially on immigration -
reflects something strong across Europe and have a measured response which
tries to accommodate that sentiment."
Mr Blair added: "Our
nation is in peril. To allow us to come safely through this we need to be adult
in our politics, to proceed with calm, maturity and without bitterness; because
our future as a nation in the world and as the UK itself is at stake."
He said "Britain
should keep all our options open" but went on to insist that "is not
an argument for another referendum".
He warned that Nigel
Farage's performance in the European Parliament could damage the UK's chances
to secure a favourable deal.
In the wake of the Brexit
vote, Mr Farage was booed by MEPs as he accused them of being "in
denial" about the failure of their single currency and their attempt to
create political union in Europe.
The UKIP leader said he had
been laughed at when he arrived in Brussels 17 years ago with a message that
Britain must leave. He went on to tell MEPs: "You're not laughing
now."
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