Former Prime Minister Tony Blair may be mistaken in saying that Theresa May will be back in Number 10 come June 9, a long-serving Cumbrian MP believes.

Labour’s Eric Martlew , who represented Carlisle from 1987 until 2010, believes the tide is now turning in his party’s favour ahead of the General Election.

However John Mallinson, a senior Carlisle Conservative, is confident the majority of voters would prefer Mrs May over Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn.

They were responding to former Labour leader Mr Blair’s comments that Conservative Mrs May would likely be Prime Minister after the election, quoting the opinion polls which have the Tories well ahead.

He added that Labour’s best election tactic would be to argue that a “strong opposition” was important for democracy.

But Mr Martlew told the News & Star: “I just feel that things are starting to turn.

"I’ve been out on the streets canvassing for the local elections and the response was okay, then the General Election was called and it saw more of a push towards Mrs May.

"But over the last few days it’s been starting to come back to Labour.”

He believes Boris Johnson’s attack on Jeremy Corbyn, labelling him a “mugwump”, has distanced voters from the Conservatives.

“I think Boris Johnson behaving in such a nasty way will only help us. People will realise what the Tories are.

"The odds are Theresa May will win, but if we run a good campaign and they keep being arrogant and abusive, then I think it’s all to play for,” he added.

Mr Mallinson said his party couldn’t be complacent, but he still believes the Conservatives have the upper hand in the election campaign over Mr Corbyn’s Labour.


John Mallison “Other than his hardcore left supporters, I think he will find it extremely difficult to reach out and widen his popularity. This is one of the few occasions I actually agree with Tony Blair. I think Mrs May will be Prime Minister,” he said.

“That said. We should never think it’s going to be easy. We shouldn’t presume anything or take anything for granted.”

Asked about Mr Johnson’s “mugwump” comment, he added: “I think that’s best left to Boris. I do believe politicians should say what they are going to do rather than criticise others.

"But I do think it would be very difficult to see a successful Britain with Jeremy Corbyn at the helm. There are so many question marks.”

Some nationally have questioned why former Mr Blair, having taken a fairly back seat in recent years, is suddenly so outspoken.

But Mr Martlew believes he is coming forward because he is worried about the situation in Europe and Mrs May’s plans for a “hard” Brexit.

“He is the most successful Labour Prime minister in history. He doesn’t want a hard Brexit, that’s what has motivated him. A Labour government would lead better Brexit negotiations,” he said.