LONDON: Tony Blair is to make his first return to British politics since stepping down as PM, to campaign for the Labour party in an upcoming general election, a newspaper reported Wednesday.

"We want all the party's leadership -- past and present -- to be contributing to our electoral success," his close ally Business Minister Peter Mandelson told the Daily Mirror.

"They know as well as everyone what is at stake for the country.

Blair has kept out of the country's politics since quitting in 2007 but will return in a bid to help Labour salvage victory in an election expected in May, which the party looks likely to lose.

"Everyone will get stuck in," said Mandelson, adding Blair would be one of a number of Labour veterans returning for the campaign.

The news came ahead of Blair's appearance at a public inquiry into the Iraq war on Friday.

Mandelson said he would not bet on a Labour win at the looming poll -- but insisted it was "not too late" for the party to gain back ground.

Labour is trailing the Conservatives by a wide margin in polls.