Ignore ‘vicious’ social media criticism, Blair tells Starmer

Former UK prime minister praises Labour leader's handling of riots and advises him not to put off the hard decisions'

• Tony Blair: I would have stayed if I could'

Tony Blair has urged Keir Starmer to ignore vicious" social media platforms during his time as prime minister, saying that poring over the inevitable criticism that will rain down on him will trigger psychological problems.

You know, you start scrolling through social media that's written about you, it's going to do your head in," Blair says in an interview with the Observer's chief political commentator, Andrew Rawnsley, about his new book, On Leadership, Lessons for the 21st century.