Tony Blair has said he is unsure whether Labour can ever be “taken back” from the left-wing followers of Jeremy Corbyn, amid talk of a group of MPs breaking away from the party.

The former prime minister said Mr Corbyn was an “existential threat” to the party, but said he still hoped that Labour is not “lost”.

Another leading figure of the Blair era, Lord Blunkett, warned the party is facing “irrelevance” unless there is a rethink of the “Corbyn project”.

But Mr Corbyn’s supporters hit back arguing that Mr Blair was “never in the right party” and that Labour was “more united than ever”.

Reports have emerged in recent weeks that a group of Labour MPs are planning to break away and sit as an independent group in the House of Commons.

Jeremy Corbyn releases video apologising for antisemitism in the Labour party

Mr Blair told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I’ve been a member of the Labour Party for over 40 years. You do feel a strong loyalty and attachment, but at the same time it’s a different party. The question is, can it be taken back?

“This is a different type of Labour Party. Can it be taken back? I don’t know.”

Protests against Labour antisemitism Show all 14 1 /14 Protests against Labour antisemitism Protests against Labour antisemitism Protesters clashed during the demonstration Reuters Protests against Labour antisemitism Members of the Jewish community hold a protest against Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn and antisemitism in the Labour Party AFP/Getty Protests against Labour antisemitism Protesters hold placards and flags during a demonstration, organised by the British Board of Jewish Deputies for those who oppose antisemitism, in Parliament Square Reuters Protests against Labour antisemitism Hundreds of people gathered in Parliament Square to protest against antisemitism in the Labour Party EPA Protests against Labour antisemitism Labour MP Luciana Berger speaks during the protest PA Protests against Labour antisemitism A protester blows through a shofar during the demonstration Getty Protests against Labour antisemitism Members of London's Jewish community protest in support of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn outside parliament EPA Protests against Labour antisemitism Labour MP John Mann speaks during a protest against antisemitism PA Protests against Labour antisemitism People protest against antisemitism in the Labour Party as Jewish community leaders have launched a scathing attack on Jeremy Corbyn, claiming he has sided with antisemites ‘again and again’ PA Protests against Labour antisemitism Labour politicians Stella Creasy and Chuka Umunna leave after attending the demonstration Getty Protests against Labour antisemitism A pro-Jeremy Corbyn protester holds a placard during a counter-protest Getty Protests against Labour antisemitism A support of the Labour Party hold up a placard during the demonstration Reuters Protests against Labour antisemitism Jeremy Corbyn supporters during the demo Reuters Protests against Labour antisemitism A protester holds up a sign reading ‘For the many, not the Jew’ AFP

Mr Blair’s comments follow Frank Field’s resignation of the party whip over the antisemitism row and allegations of bullying among members.

The veteran MP, who served as welfare minister in Mr Blair’s cabinet, cited “a culture of intolerance, nastiness and intimidation” among his concerns.

Saying Mr Corbyn poses an “existential threat” to the party, Mr Blair added: “There’s lots of people associated with me who feel that the Labour Party’s lost, that the game’s over. I’m kind of hoping they’re not right.”

Lord Blunkett, a Labour MP for 28 years and a minister for most of Mr Blair’s administration, said he was not sure if he would back the party even if he knew his vote would make the difference between Mr Corbyn becoming prime minister or not.

Asked what he would do in these circumstances, the Labour peer said: “It would entirely depend on whether my good friends in the Parliamentary Labour Party and the Commons hadn’t been deselected and were there to ensure that the sane, rational policies of a Labour Party for the future were going to be implemented.”

Tony Blair says the people around Jeremy Corbyn don’t take antisemitism seriously

But Mr Blair’s intervention sparked a backlash from Mr Corbyn’s supporters, with MP Chris Williamson saying he did not understand Mr Blair’s argument, given the huge support Mr Corbyn enjoyed in the party membership.

He said: “The Labour Party has never been more united. It is going from strength to strength.”