TONY Blair’s anti-Brexit boyband needs a woman: could Nicola Sturgeon fit the bill? They are putting the band back together and Mr Blair, one of the biggest stars of the 1990s, with a string of hits to his credit including “education, education, education” and “tough on crime; tough on the causes of crime”, is planning a European comeback tour in the New Year.

He’s reportedly signed up his old band-mates, Alastair Campbell and Peter Mandelson who joined him for a soiree at London’s posh River Cafe last week.

Also at the meeting to map a way for Britain to stay in the European Union was the former head of MI6, Sir John Sawers, which is enough to give Brexit campaigners the heebie jeebies.

Sir Richard Branson and other big donors are offering financial backing to willing Remaniacs. And that’s not all.

On backing vocals, there’s the former Tory prime minister, Sir John Major, who believes there is a case for another referendum on Brexit and the former LibDem deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, who thinks so too.

Mr Blair’s anti-Brexiteers hope to persuade the British people to reverse the decision they made in the June EU referendum. This is regarded as treasonable by the UK government but, as with Scottish independence, there’s no reason to rule out a second EU referendum if there is a change of material circumstances and a sustained demand for one.

But there is a problem with this big band. It looks like a group of has-beens trying to relive past glory.

Mr Blair has so much baggage he needs a fleet of 16-wheelers to carry it around. Sir John is an obscure figure for most voters, memorable only for that Spitting Image sketch of him being very partial to peas.

Mr Campbell is so shouty he’s almost certifiable and Mr Mandelson has a reputation as the Prince of Darkness.

Are these really the people to make Britain fall in love again with Europe? They need someone more up to date, with a clean bill of political health and a record of success. They need a woman.

Step forward: Ms Sturgeon.

Admittedly, it is hard to picture the SNP leader up on the same stage as some of her greatest enemies.

Sir John is not only a Tory (and therefore accorded the prefix “hated”) but vigorously campaigned, not only against independence, but devolution which he said in 1992 was “the most dangerous proposition every put to the British people”.

Mr Blair was the main reason Scottish Labour voters switched allegiance to the SNP. He is identified with tuition fees, NHS privatisation, and Iraq.

Worse, the band have signed up the former Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy as a roadie.

But the rise of the populist right from Donald Trump to Nigel Farage and Marine le Pen has created a new divide in politics and Brexit is forging strange alliances.

Europe is such a big issue that it eclipses petty party differences. It was the First Minister who after all called at the SNP conference for a cross-party coalition to fight against Brexit at UK level. This might be the only one available.

The Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn seems to have gone AWOL and his deputy John McDonnell has taken to talking up the positive benefits of Brexit.

It is impossible to say what Labour’s position is on Article 50, the Great Reform Bill, the European Economic Area or any of the multiple Brexit issues. At least Mr Blair and Sir John have been prepared to offer some leadership. They seem to be saying what Ms Sturgeon will be telling the Irish Senate today: that hard Brexit would be an act of economic insanity and that, at the very least, Britain should seek to remain in the single market.

Prime Minister Theresa May is, we’re told, lying awake at night wondering how to get a good deal in Europe. Countries such as Poland, which used to be on Britain’s side in the EU, are warning that Britain faces a cliff-edge Brexit in two years.

The people May has put in charge of negotiations are either out to lunch or warring amongst themselves. And to cap it all, we are in the longest wages freeze in 100 years.

Mr Blair didn’t win three general elections for nothing. He can sense the opportunity to restore his tarnished image by leading a campaign to change Britain’s mind on Europe.

After the Supreme Court rules on parliament’s right to debate and vote on Brexit, it will be game on.

The anthem: what better than the Beatles: Get Back.