On election: "Unsurprised that the Labour Party won" (2'11'')

John Major has admitted he was "unsurprised" the Tories lost the general election in May because after 18 years in power the party was "stretching the democratic elastic a very long way."

The former Prime Minister suggested that as long as Labour did not appear unelectable, they were always likely to win although Conservative in-fighting over Europe and sleaze scandals contributed to Tony Blair's massive majority.

On Ireland: "I'm not surprised by what is happening" (1'21'')

However, Mr Major offered staunch support to his successor, William Hague.

He went on to support Labour's handling of the Northern Ireland peace process and scotched long-standing rumours that he "cracked" on September 16, 1992, the notorious Black Wednesday when the pound was forced out of the European exchange rate mechanism.

But he confirmed he seriously thought about resigning.

The Grand Inquisitor - Sir Robin Day

In a wide-ranging interview for Sir Robin Day's Book Talk programme, to be screened on Saturday on BBC News 24, cricket-mad Mr Major went on to hint that he would shortly take a new role in the world of sport.

Early doubts about another triumph

Of the general election, Mr Major said: "I was unsurprised that the Labour Party won the election.

"I said as early as the day after the 1992 election, talking to Chris Patten and I think also in separate conversations as well that day, that it would be very difficult to win a successive election victory, I thought that."

"We were stretching the democratic elastic a very long way getting to 18 years, so I was unsurprised that we lost.

"I think the best prospect we had of winning would have been if the Labour Party continued to behave in a fashion that rendered itself unelectable, as it had done throughout the 1980s."

But he added: "The scale of the Conservative Party's defeat was obviously partly self-inflicted by their disputes over European policy in particular, but also by the behaviour of a small number of people that damaged the party as a whole."

Asked whether he believed Mr Hague could resuscitate the party, Mr Major said: "I don't have a shred of doubt about it."

Views of Europe

Mr Major said he would not have signed the letter to Monday's Independent newspaper in which a group of Tory grandees were critical of Mr Hague's tough stance against joining up to the European single currency.

The letter was signed by former Deputy Prime Minister, Michael Heseltine, ex-Chancellor Kenneth Clarke, former Tory chairman and ex-Hong Kong governor Mr Patten, former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath and former Foreign Secretary Lord (Geoffrey) Howe.

On his own views on the euro, Mr Major said he remained "cautious" and "wary" and was "not persuaded" of the case for signing up.

Asked whether economic and monetary union was a risk too far he replied: "For now, yes, absolutely, it is. It is a risk too far for now, but I don't rule it out forever, and I never have."

No wobbling

On economics: "Black Wednesday was a very difficult day" (1'52'')

Mr Major was asked whether, on Black Wednesday, he had "cracked or lost your nerve or wobbled".

The suggestion was "total rubbish", he insisted.

Mr Major said: "It was a piece of black propaganda that emerged some time after the event. No, of course it isn't true, wasn't true and everyone who was there on the day simply knows it wasn't true."

Mr Major, who blamed Germany's Bundesbank for triggering the crisis, did acknowledge that he thought about stepping down.

On politics: Major on Labour's troubles (0'50'')

The interview was based on a review of the historian Anthony Seldon's recent biography of the former Prime Minister, entitled Major, A Political Life.

Sir Robin asked him: "Is it true, as Anthony Seldon says, that you were thinking seriously of resigning and, in fact, wrote out in your own hand your resignation broadcast, and then your civil servant, your private secretary, refused to let you do that?"

He replied: "Well, the last part isn't quite right, the first part is right."

Damage to be repaired

Mr Major said he decided against stepping down because he wanted to repair the damage done to the country by Black Wednesday, and after consulting several people for their advice.

Asked for his views on Mr Blair's performance, Mr Major said he believed the Prime Minister was right to tackle welfare spending, but urged him to proceed cautiously in reforming areas like disability benefits.

On his own future, Mr Major said he was not interested in taking on any kind of international role.

But he added: "I have some plans to take a higher profile in one or two aspects of sport, and that will become apparent over the next few months."
 

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