Former Prime Minister Tony Blair, the U.K. Labour Party’s most successful leader, cast doubt on whether the party can return to power in next year’s general election under Ed Miliband’s stewardship.

The May 7 vote may be one “in which a traditional left- wing party competes with a traditional right-wing party, with the traditional result,” the Economist magazine cited Blair as saying in an interview. Asked if that meant a win for Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservatives, Blair said: “Yes, that is what happens.”

Blair, who led Labour to three election victories between 1997 and 2005, was quoted by the Economist as saying a winning strategy involved “not alienating large parts of business, for one thing.” Miliband has outlined policies directed against what he calls “predator” companies and has announced plans to cap energy prices and tax bank bonuses.

Recent polls of voting intentions have generally shown Labour a couple of percentage points ahead of the Tories, with neither party having enough backing for a majority in the House of Commons. Miliband trails Cameron in personal approval ratings.

“I am still very much New Labour and Ed would not describe himself in that way, so there is obviously a difference there,” Blair told the Economist. “I am convinced the Labour Party succeeds best when it is in the center ground.”