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The former prime minister, who has been in the political wilderness since quitting Downing Street almost a decade ago, has confessed there would be “too much hostility” to a potential return to British political life. But Mr Blair revealed his plans to “build a platform” and use his experience in order to push back against what he terms “popular movements across the Western world”, such as Brexit and the election of Donald Trump. The ex-Labour leader’s office recently denied reports Mr Blair is set to make a return to British political life in order to try and influence the Government’s Brexit process, with a spokesperson also rubbishing claims he branded Jeremy Corbyn a “nutter” and Theresa May a “lightweight”.

GETTY Tony Blair admitted there would be 'too much hostility' for him to return

In an interview with the New Statesman, Mr Blair explained why he feels unable to make a political comeback in the UK even though he recently shut down most of his business interests. He said: “I can’t come into frontline politics. There’s just too much hostility, and also there are elements of the media who would literally move to destroy mode if I tried to do that.” Earlier this year, Mr Blair was described as a ‘broken man’ as he gave an emotional yet defiant response to the publication of the Chilcot Report into his controversial invasion of Iraq in 2003. Following the release of the report, Mr Corbyn apologised for the conflict on behalf of the Labour Party, while Mr Blair has also routinely come under fire for his money-spinning consultancy deals with global dictators since quitting power. Despite describing himself as “dismayed by the state of Western politics”, Mr Blair added he “is also incredibly motivated by it”.

It can be stopped if the British people decide that, having seen what it means, the pain-gain cost-benefit analysis doesn’t stack up Tony Blair

Having made a pre-referendum intervention on behalf of the Remain campaign - and having routinely commented on Brexit since the June 23 vote - Mr Blair suggested British voters might still yet change their minds on quitting the EU. He said: “It can be stopped if the British people decide that, having seen what it means, the pain-gain cost-benefit analysis doesn’t stack up.” Mr Blair suggested there are “two ways” that Leave voters could change their minds, adding: “I’m not saying it will [be stopped], by the way, but it could. I’m just saying: until you see what it means, how do you know?” Highlighting the issue of Britain’s membership of the EU’s Single Market, Mr Blair insisted the debate between a so-called ‘hard’ or ‘soft’ Brexit will be the ultimate deciding factor over whether the UK does actually quit the bloc. He said: “Either you get access to the Single Market - in which case you’ll end up accepting a significant number of the rules on immigration, on payment into the budget, on the European Court’s jurisdiction. “People may then say, ‘Well, hang on, why are we leaving then?’ Or alternatively, you’ll be out of the Single Market and the economic pain may be very great, because beyond doubt if you do that you’ll have years, maybe a decade, of economic restructuring.”

Chilcot inquiry: Britain's invasion of Iraq in 2003 Wed, July 6, 2016 Today the long-awaited Chilcot Report on the UK’s role in the 2003 American-led invasion of Iraq will be published, take a look back at the war in Iraq Play slideshow PA 1 of 38 Chilcot Inquiry: A look back at the war in Iraq