Blair: UK exit from EU would be “huge problem”

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has warned the coalition government that it would be a “huge problem” for the UK if it were to leave European Union (EU).

Speaking to the state-run BBC One’s Andrew Marr show, Blair said, “If Britain did want to get out of Europe, it would be a huge problem for our country.”

Blair, who was the UK Prime Minister from 1997 to 2007, also said that a decision to quit the EU would reduce the UK’s “weight” in the world.

This comes as the current British Prime Minister David Cameron promised an in/out vote of UK membership with the EU in a speech last month.

Blair stressed that Cameron’s pledge was not “sensible” and that the UK could face prolonged “uncertainty” in the lead-up to the referendum.

The situation has caused growing concern among many Conservatives over developments within the EU, especially over the effects of increasing financial and political integration by eurozone member states.

Supporters of Cameron argue that the EU is out-of-touch, too expensive and unsupportive of the UK’s national interests.