FORMER deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has reportedly taken aim at his previous boss Tony Blair – allegedly suggesting that the "bloody crusades" in Iraq and Afghanistan has led to the radicalisation of a generation of young British Muslims.
Speaking at a fundraising event in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, last month, Lord Prescott is reported to have said that Mr Blair "wants to invade everywhere" and is "still into that" notion of regime change in the Middle East.
He is also believed to have suggested that young Muslims are turning to extremism after seeing grisly images on the television - including people being murdered and rockets fired, according to The Telegraph.
His comments come amid a growing anxiety surrounding a number of young Britons fleeing to Syria to join the so-called Islamic State.
He said: "I was with Tony Blair on Iraq. We were wrong.
"They told us it wasn't regime change. It was. And that's exactly what the Americans have had.
"Now Tony, unfortunately is still into that. I mean the way he's going now, he now wants to invade everywhere.
"He should put a white coat on with a red cross and let's start the bloody crusades again."
He added: "When I hear people talking about how people are radicalised, young Muslims. I'll tell you how they are radicalised.
"Every time they watch the television where their families are worried, their kids are being killed and murdered and rockets firing on all these people, that's what radicalises them."
The event came just days before is was announced that Lord Prescott was to become Labour leader Ed Miliband's special adviser on climate change.
In relation to his comments at the fundraiser, a Labour Party spokesman told the newspaper: "John's views on this do not represent the views of the Labour Party."
Bob Neill, the Conservative vice-chairman, said Lord Prescott's suggestions show Labour "haven't changed".
He added: "Their bitter divisions would cause chaos for Britain if they got into Government."
Lord Prescott took a similar dig at Mr Blair last year, when he spoke of the former Labour leader using political force during Iraq and Afghanistan.
He wrote in a Mirror column: "This is totally unacceptable and provokes people in communities angry about the West's actions.
"I challenged Tony about the danger of becoming involved with what Bush acknowledged was a crusade."
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