French president Emmanuel Macron has been touted as the new poitical leader of the European Union, who will implement ambitous reforms across the bloc.
However, former British Prime Minister and arch-Remainer Tony Blair has claimed that France’s young leader will be badly hurt by a Brexit shockwave.
Mr Blair, who has been campaigning for a second referendum on Brexit, has been trying to enlist European backing to stop Brexit while he was at the World Economic Forum this week.
The former British leader is convinced that “Brexit is very bad for Britain and bad also for Europe”.
Speaking to France24, the former Labour Prime Minister was asked whether Mr Macron “profits” from Brexit, given that France is becoming the continent’s new political champion.
However, Mr Blair said any gain would be short-lived, explaining: “He has made a remarkable entry onto the world stage, it’s given a lot of positive sentiment to France.
“In the short-term, the contrast between a France moving forward and a Britain debating Brexit is quite stark.
“But in the long-term this will hurt France, it’s bad for France.
“You have taken one of the world’s largest economies out of Europe, and and politically, Britain has weight in the world.
“When you take that off the European side, Europe becomes less powerful, especially in facing the powers of US and China.”
He also reiterated his desire for a second referendum in the UK, adding: “It’s not too late, we don’t leave until March 2019, and up until that point, we’ve got the right to rethink.
“May will hit roadblocks especially in parliament, and that gives us an opportunity.”