Blair honour ‘a kick in the teeth’ for Iraqis and Afghans

‘We have 8 million people on the edge of starvation in Afghanistan now. We have Iraq in a terrible state’

TONY BLAIR’S knighthood is a “kick in the teeth” to the people of Iraq and Afghanistan, anti-war campaigners have said.

Sir Tony was made a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry, by the Queen.

Yesterday Lindsey German, convenor of the Stop the War Coalition, said she was “amazed” to hear the former prime minister had been given the honour.

“I think it’s pretty incredible given that this year, we’ve seen the collapse of Afghanistan, which [was] Tony Blair’s first major war in the war on terror,” she told LBC radio.

“We have 8 million people on the edge of starvation in Afghanistan now. We have Iraq in a terrible state now, nearly 20 years after the invasion.

“And I think it’s a kick in the teeth for the people of Iraq and Afghanistan, and a kick in the teeth for all the people who protested against the war in Iraq and who have been proved right.”

Sir Tony, 68, was given the knighthood 14 years after leaving Downing Street, after claims that the delay was blocking other former prime ministers from being honoured.

He was in office between 1997 and 2007 and led the UK during the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. Ms German said she understood the award was convention, but added: “It’s 14 years on since he stopped being prime minister, so I don’t really see the justification for it at any time.

“It seems to me this is just him trying yet again to rehabilitate himself.”

John Smith, son of Second World War veteran and author Harry Leslie Smith, said giving the honour to Gordon Brown would have been “more appropriate”.

A petition calling for Sir Tony’s honour to be rescinded had gained more than 14,000 signatures as of last night.

“Tony Blair caused irreparable damage to both the constitution of the United Kingdom and to the very fabric of the nation’s society,” the petition alleges.

But others praised Sir Tony for his service to the country.

Sir Keir Starmer, Labour Party leader, said: “The last Labour government delivered enduring change from the national minimum wage to the peace process in Northern Ireland. My congratulations to Tony Blair on this recognition for his public service to our country.”

Neil Coyle, Labour MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, said as prime minister he “transformed the UK for the better, won three outstanding victories for the party and is easily the best PM of my lifetime.”

In a statement, Sir Tony said it was an “immense honour”.

He added: “It was a great privilege to serve as prime minister and I would like to thank all those who served alongside me, in politics, public service and all parts of our society, for their dedication and commitment to our country.”