Asking Labour members if Tony Blair should rule Gaza

In this vox pop at Labour Party Conference 2025, we ask party members for their views on the controversial proposal that former Prime Minister Tony Blair should be placed in charge of Gaza as part of the United States’ new plan for “peace” in the region. The idea, which has been widely discussed in international diplomatic circles, would see Blair act as a de facto colonial-style administrator in Gaza following Israel’s devastating war and ongoing occupation.

Delegates, activists, and Labour members share their reactions to this extraordinary suggestion. Some argue that Blair’s track record in the Middle East, from the Iraq War to his role as Quartet envoy, makes him unsuitable and even dangerous as a supposed “peace overseer.” Others reflect on the legacy of New Labour and question whether putting a British politician in charge of Gaza represents yet another example of Western imperialism and the denial of Palestinian sovereignty.

This on-the-ground Labour Conference 2025 vox pop captures a range of voices, from those who are outraged at the idea of Blair returning to Middle East politics, to those who see it as a continuation of the colonial mindset that has fuelled conflict rather than solved it. With Keir Starmer’s Labour government already under pressure over its stance on Israel, Palestine, and Gaza, the proposal has reignited debate inside the party about Britain’s role in the world and whether Labour should challenge or embrace U.S. foreign policy strategies.

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