The inquiry led by Sir John Chilcot found the former Labour leader overplayed the ‘flawed’ intelligence about the dictator’s weaponry and ignored peaceful means to resolve the issue. Published in July 2016, the report found Hussein posed ‘no imminent threat’ at the time of the invasion and that the war was fought on the basis of ‘flawed’ intelligence. It added that the cabinet’s decision to invade was made in circumstances that were ‘far from satisfactory’. Someone like this being honoured shows how corrupt and vile the system is.’įergus Murray added: ‘As long as people like Blair get honoured, this whole system dishonours us.’ He said: ‘A knighthood for that repugnant man Tony Blair, but still no knighthood for the last surviving Dambuster George “Johnny” Johnson in his 100th year is a national shame.ĭeborah Warford, another signatory, said: ‘Tony Blair should be prosecuted not knighted. Giving evidence during the inquiry, Blair denied sending the country to war on the basis of a lie over supposed WMDs.Īsked by the BBC if he felt Blair had given the fullest version of events, Chilcot said: ‘I think he gave an – what was – I hesitate to say this, rather, but I think it was, from his perspective and standpoint, emotionally truthful and I think that came out also in his press conference after the launch statement. ‘I think he was under – as you said just now – very great emotional pressure during those sessions … He was suffering. Now in that state of mind and mood you fall back on your instinctive skills and reactions, I think.’Īll but one of the Queen’s nine Prime Ministers before Blair were appointed a Knight of the Garter, an honour created by Edward III in 1348, a few years after leaving office. The only exception, Alec Douglas-Home, was awarded the Order of the Thistle.īut Blair was forced to wait for more than 14 years. It has been suggested that the Queen’s strained relationship with him during his 10 years in office may have contributed to the ‘snub’.The petition calling for Tony Blair to lose the knighthood awarded to him in the Queen's New Year's Honours is nearing 1,000,000 signatures.
Set up on Saturday (January 1), it calls for the appointment - a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter - not to be given to the longest-serving Labour prime minister.Īs of 7.30pm on Thursday (January 6), the number of signatories was at 902,563 and rising at speed.
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