Supporters' trust chair Phil Sumbler said the club was right to warn those who might be prepared to cash in.

BBC: Alex_Ferguson

Mr Blair's article was seized on by the Conservative Party, with chairman Grant Shapps saying the former PM was right to warn that "Labour aren't a credible party of government under Ed Miliband".

BBC: Tony Blair warns Miliband's Labour over move to left

In the wake of Obama's triumph, political professionals of both the left and the right credit this trend, and warn that it is unlikely to reverse itself.

BBC: Viewpoint: Republicans at a crossroads