Tony Blair backs the Independent Group as he says 'truly mind-boggling' Labour has been taken by populists

Ex-prime minister Tony Blair has praised the politics of the new Independent Group of MPs, as he declared the Labour Party he once led is “in thrall” to left-wing populists.

Mr Blair, who took the party to three election wins, said its current state is now “truly mind-boggling”, bedevilled by antisemitism and characterised by its “savage denunciation” of anyone who speaks against it.

In contrast, he cited the breakaway group of ex-Labour MPs as part of a “fightback”, calling on other supporters of moderate politics to “embrace the spirit of insurgency”, adding “the struggle can be won”.

Mr Blair’s call to arms comes soon after nine MPs quit Labour, with more said to be considering following and deputy leader Tom Watson creating a new social democrat counterweight to Mr Corbyn’s left wing within the parliamentary party.

The Independent Group, which now also has three former Conservative MPs, had its first formal meeting on Monday having laid claim to the centre ground of British politics.

Speaking in Washington DC, Mr Blair lamented the demise of moderate politics, saying the word “centrist” is now used as an insult.

After pointing out how the Conservatives are “morphing into something nationalistic”, he turned his fire on Jeremy Corbyn’s party saying: “The Labour Party’s membership is in thrall to a populism of the left.

“The running sore of the past two years has been the row over antisemitism with Jewish Labour MPs coming under sustained attack, a truly mind-boggling circumstance for a supposedly progressive political party to find itself in.

“Both manifestations of populism exult in savage denunciation of those who disagree especially within their own ranks.”

He then added: “But the point is, the fight is not lost. The fightback is under way within the two main parties and outside of them, where last week several MPs defected to form a new political grouping.”

The speech came within hours of Mr Corbyn addressing his own MPs after a flurry of departures from his party – including those of Chuka Umunna, Luciana Berger, Gavin Shuker, Ann Coffey, Angela Smith, Mike Gapes and Chris Leslie.

Ian Austin also left but did not join the new grouping, while several others are also said to be close to quitting.

Mr Blair finished his speech saying: “These are new times. We need, despite our moderation, to embrace the spirit of insurgency.

“We need new ideas and thinking on policy. Above all, we need to wake up, gird up, stand up and summon up the strength and intelligence to prevail.

“The struggle can be won. But the complacency must end.”

Antisemitism featured heavily in many of the MPs departing words, but Mr Corbyn’s intransigence over Brexit has also been a problem – leading to the leadership promising to back some kind of push for a new referendum in a bid to prevent further departures on Monday.

The Independent Group appointed Mr Shuker as convener, though not leader, after its meeting in the afternoon, adding that its discussions had focussed on its values and priorities. Former Tory Anna Soubry said the most important priority was Brexit.

On Sunday Mr Watson said the ideas of MPs from the social democrat wing of Labour need to be “given some greater weight” or more would leave.

He outlined plans to give them a platform and demanded they be listened to by the shadow cabinet, but denied he was raising “a rebel flag” against Mr Corbyn.