Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has been warned over embracing the legacy of former Prime Minister Tony Blair. The opposition leader told the Financial Times this week he wanted Labour activists to be proud of the party's record under the Blair Government from 1997. But as Sir Keir attempts to set a course for his party ahead of the next election, broadcaster Maajid Nawaz warned the move will see Labour "haemorrhaging " ethnic minority voters.

       LBC presenter Maajid Nawaz warned embracing Mr Blair would see Labour vote share narrow in seats with large Muslim communities as happened in the Batley and Spen by-election

       He remarked: "You want to avoid a Batley and Spen and the narrow victory you just had there.

       "Which I hope lessons were learnt Mr Starmer.

       "But you want to avoid haemorrhaging votes from Muslim communities, ethnic minority communities that are concerned about civil liberties.

       "Because frankly, we don't have the privilege to take them for granted."

       "Yet you're championing the same man who used the war on terror...to curtail our civil liberties," he added.

       "I stood by concerned Labour party members and the Jewish community against Jeremy Corbyn.

       "I ask you now not to betray us and sell us down this road where, in the name of emergencies, civil liberties can be stripped away."

       He concluded: "It's ethnic minority communities that suffer again,"

       It comes as Shadow Lord Chancellor David Lammy sparked a furious backlash on LBC for arguing Labour should embrace Mr Blair's legacy.

       Mr Lammy said: "[Blair] formed a government on three successive occasions, investment in public services, our schools lifted up after many, many years, languishing health service renewed, waiting times cut, peace in Northern Ireland, the minimum wage, the list continues.

       "Of course there are controversial moments like Iraq I don't want to dispute that.

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       "The truth is, let me just be clear on this, I've written this in the past, we're not going to form a Government if we continue to hang our dirty linen in public.

       We've got to bring them in from the line, we've got to recognise those of all political persuasions within the party.

       "That have been part of Labour's success in the past and we've got to move forward."

       "So I think here Keir Starmer was exactly right."