Tony Blair rallies the troops at Labour HQ

Tony Blair gave a speech at Labour HQ this afternoon, I understand, which rather puts paid to the claim that he was doing the very minimum required of the former Prime Minister to help his party.

I hear from those present that it was a very upbeat address, in which Blair told Labourites he was optimistic about the party’s chances in this election. He also reflected on his speech on Tuesday in which he warned of the dangers of a European referendum and described his party’s outlook as a progressive internationalist one.

My source tells me the speech was very well received: even if there are many in Labour who are glad to see the back of Blair, getting an endorsement from a a three-time election winner who has apparently oscillated between ambivalence and pessimism about his party’s current outlook is still a boost.