Badenoch tells Blair not to waste his time calling for Labour to change

Kemi Badenoch has told former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair to "not waste your time" trying to convince the Labour government to change course.

The Conservative Party leader said Sir Tony was right to ask Labour MPs to focus on a "proper political project that increases our economic and military strength".

But Badenoch claimed there was "only one show in town" to deliver this, as she advised the Labour grandee to vote Conservative at the next general election.

Her letter follows Sir Tony's 5,600 word essay that argued Sir Keir Starmer's government had no "coherent plan" for the country and had introduced policies that held back business. The prime minister has defended his decisions.

Badenoch's open letter published in The Times is the latest contribution to the debate over Labour's future, which has seen essays and opinion pieces published by key Labour figures.

Sir Tony's initial intervention came as Sir Keir faces a potential leadership challenge following a poor set of election results and ministerial resignations.

Badenoch said those vying to replace Sir Keir "will be no better".

She also criticised some of Sir Tony's record in government, including on devolution and the impact of legal reforms on migration.