The Brexit vote has brought many unintended side effects - one of which is Tony Blair's return to politics, 20 years after he won a landslide general election.

As we head towards another of those - but this time with a Conservative government poised to take the victory - the former Prime Minister spoke of his ambitions to soften Brexit and "shape policy debate".

He told The Mirror: "This Brexit thing has given me a direct motivation to get more involved in the politics.

You need to get your hands dirty and I will."

Mr Blair is not as wildly popular as he was 20 years ago - especially not in the ranks of his own party.

He acknowledged that he will get a "bucket of wotsit" poured on his head when he makes his grand return.