TONY BLAIR may re-enter politics in Britain but it is unlikely that he will be able to return to a leadership role.

The position of Labour leader is different from what it was when John Smith died and the Labour Party sought a leader to lead it to success.

The Labour Part never had a united consensus for socialism.

It was a political party aiming to attain political power through elections.

With the reduction in the number of manual workers in manufacturing industries it could win only by being able to appeal to voters whose political interest had not been aroused through their trade union affiliations.

The way Mr Blair presented himself filled the specification the Labour Party needed to have a chance of winning.

Mr Blair had then no history that could be counted against him and there was a mood for change because Margaret Thatcher’s image had faded.

Labour supporters may not be right about it but they now feel it within their grasp to win the next General Election. They are not as dispirited as they were when they had been repeatedly defeated.

The likelihood is that if Tony Blair returns to the political scene it will be as a peer.

G Bulmer, Billingham.