Mayor of London attacks former PM for saying there will be ‘chaos’ if next government holds a referendum on Britain’s EU membership

The mayor of London Boris Johnson has called Tony Blair an “epic, patronising tosser”, for saying Britain should not hold a referendum on EU membership, it has been reported.

In comments that a source said were largely made in jest, Johnson – who is also the Conservative candidate for Uxbridge and South Ruislip – attacked the former prime minister over his speech in support of Labour’s current leader Ed Miliband.

“How dare he tell the British people that they may not pronounce on this matter. That it must be reserved to a sacred cast of intellectuals and do-gooders to decide,” he said.

“Actually the British people are very wise, they will make up their minds, they will consider it very deeply, and I’m sure they will get the right answer. But I think we owe it to the British people to produce a better treaty, not just for Britain but for Europe,” Johnson told the Sun on Sunday.

Last week, Blair used the speech in his old County Durham constituency to highlight the potential consequences if the next government holds a vote on EU membership.

“Think of the chaos produced by the possibility, never mind the reality, of Britain quitting Europe. Jobs that are secure suddenly insecure; investment decisions postponed or cancelled; a pall of unpredictability hanging over the British economy.”

Blair said a decision to leave Europe would “say a lot” about Britain – and none of it, he said, good.

“That an adventurous country has become a timid one, that one with global ambitions has opted to be a parochial bystander, that a country known for its openness to the world shuts the open door nearest to it, that a nation which has built its history on confidence towards others defines itself by resentment to others, that – with all the challenges of the world crowding in upon us, demanding strong and clear leadership – instead of saying: ‘Here’s where the world should go’, we say: ‘Count us out’.”

Blair backs Miliband and warns of EU chaos if Tories win election Read more

But, while out campaigning in support of his Conservative colleague Simon Marcus – the candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn – Johnson backed the Tories’ plans to call a referendum, should it form the next government.

David Cameron has promised the vote, but said he would campaign for continued membership; a position Johnson has supported in the past.

The prime minister’s critics have pointed out that, in 2007, he made a “cast iron” promise to hold a referendum should he become prime minister, which he did not keep.