LABOUR Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has hinted former Prime Minister Tony Blair should be prosecuted for taking Britain to war in Iraq.

Speaking exclusively to The Northern Echo, the 67-year-old indicated his predecessor should be held to account in the International Criminal Court.

Earlier this week, the Islington North MP apologised for the party’s role in taking the country to war in 2003, despite a groundswell of public opposition. The conflict claimed the lives of 179 British servicemen and countless thousands of Iraqi citizens.

His comments followed the long-awaited publication of The Iraq Inquiry by Sir John Chilcot, which criticised the role of former Sedgefield MP Mr Blair, and the decision-making which led to the attack on Saddam Hussein’s regime.

Mr Corbyn, who is in the North-East to attend the 132nd Durham Miners’ Gala on Saturday, was asked directly whether Tony Blair should be prosecuted over the invasion of Iraq.

He said: “The Chilcot report calls the legality of the Iraq war into question and it is my view that the International Criminal Court should be permitted to prosecute for wars that are acts of aggression and those responsible for such should be held to account.”

Mr Corbyn last night addressed union delegates at the Durham Miners Hall as part of the Campaign for Trade Union Freedom organised by the Institute of Employment Rights.

Today, he will be joined on the Racecourse by veteran Labour MP Dennis Skinner in front of crowds of up to 150,000 at the Gala.

Despite a vote of no confidence from his own MPs, 172-40, last week and widespread shadow cabinet resignations, Mr Corbyn remains defiant and is adamant he is staying on as party leader.

He was criticised for his own role in the campaign to remain part of the European Union, which saw the UK vote to leave after a referendum last month.

However the number of Labour party members has grown by 100,000 in the last fortnight to 500,000, and Mr Corbyn still appears to have backing from the trade unions.

Mr Corbyn said: “Len McCluskey (from Unite) is assessing the lay of the land and we are happy for him to continue doing so.

“He shares our view that at such a crucial time for the country the party must unite behind the democratically elected leader.”

Mr Corbyn said the Big Meeting in Durham is ‘incredibly important’ as a way of uniting the left against the Government and further austerity measures as the Conservative Party prepares to choose whether Theresa May or Andrea Leadsom will replace David Cameron as Prime Minister.

Mr Corbyn said: “The last thing the North-East needs now is another dose of Thatcherism.

“The Labour party is getting on with the business of opposition at a crucial time for our country.

“We cannot allow the Tories to dictate the terms of our exit from the European Union.

“This week I met with the leaders of socialist parties across Europe to discuss how we can maintain international co-operation which will prevent Britain engaging in a race to the bottom in terms of taxation and workers’ rights.

“Two-thirds of Labour supporters voted Remain, so it was a disappointing result for the majority in our movement.”

He said outcome of the referendum would have to be honoured and the country would leave the EU.

Mr Corbyn said: “We have to accept the democratic decision of the British people.

“The country must now unite to ensure Britain remains a tolerant and outward looking nation.

“The rise in hate crime since the referendum is alarming and deeply concerning.

“We must ensure that a victory for the Leave campaign is not misconstrued as a legitimisation of the racist views espoused by that campaign.

“The North-East has not benefited from EU membership and globalisation in the same way that London has.

“UKIP have tried to exploit this by framing this economic inequality as a consequence of immigration. This blame game won't create any jobs or build any houses, it will just divide the country at a time when it must unite.”