Blair continues to dominate debate
The candidates in the Labour Party leadership race last night attempted to draw a line under the divisions of the past which were unveiled in Tony Blair's memoirs.
In the televised hustings the five leadership candidates insisted the party must focus on its future rather than New Labour's years as Tony Blair's book dominated discussion.
Andy Burnham said in the Channel 4 News debate it was clear Blair had "not been on doorsteps recently", suggesting New Labour was seen as "hollow and disconnected".
Ed Balls said Blair had lost "touch with the aspirations of working people" and said that despite Blair and Brown's various successes in government "they both lost trust".
Diane Abbott criticised his failure to listen to the party. The left-winger added: "It's certainly the case that Tony Blair gave us three great election victories but over that period we lost five million voters."
Ed Miliband said it showed this must be a "change election for Labour" but his brother David insisted "Tony Blair is not on the ballot paper".
Although he made no endorsement in his memoirs, published yesterday, of any of the leadership candidates, Blair's comments will be seen as a mark of support for David Miliband over his brother Ed.
However the Independent reports the shadow foreign secretary had appealed to the former prime minister to not issue a public declaration of support in his battle to be the next party leader.
Last night, in a BBC interview with Andrew Marr, Blair said Miliband is "very much his own man".
Also reported to be in talks to publish his memoirs, former chancellor Alistair Darling has admitted that the controversial tax on bankers' bonuses, had failed to change the industry.
According to the Financial Times, the Labour MP said the tax, brought in by the previous administration, was likely to be a "one-off" and won't be reinstated by the coalition government.
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd