Today Sir Keir Starmer insisted Tony Blair “deserves” his knighthood, after over 500,000 people signed an appeal to have it’rescinded”.
Sir Keir stated that the ex-Labour leader was a “very successful prime minister” and had’made an enormous difference in the lives of millions across this country.”
Current Labour premier stated that the job is not “thorny” amid growing resistance.
A Change.org petition, set up three days ago, aims to strip Sir Tony of the title, accusing him of causing ‘irreparable damage to both the constitution of the United Kingdom and to the very fabric of the nation’s society’.
This petition criticizes the former PM for his involvement in conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and claims that he deserves no public honor.
Boris Johnson is being urged to petition Her Majesty for this honor to be removed.
Sir Keir Sterner today said Tony Blair deserved his knighthood, after more than 500k people signed petitions calling for its’revocation’
Sir Keir stated that the ex-Labour leader was a “very successful prime minister” and had’made an enormous difference in the lives of millions.”
Sir Tony was appointed Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter by the Queen. This is the most senior Order of Chivalry in Britain.
Appointments to the Garter are in the Queen’s gift and are made without prime ministerial advice, and are usually announced on St George’s Day on April 23.
But the monarch may make these appointments at any hour, and Sir Tony’s appointment was timed to coincide with New Year Honours.
Sir Keir today defended the appointment, telling ITV’s Good Morning Britain programme: ‘I think Tony Blair deserves the honour. He was elected to three terms. He was a highly successful prime minster.
“I don’t have the time to write a list of all his achievements that I believe vastly improved this country.
“But I would choose the one I think is most important, and that’s the work he did for Northern Ireland. The peace process was a huge success and has seen tremendous changes.
“I was a Northern Ireland police officer for six years and saw firsthand the positive effects it had on the peace in both Northern Ireland communities.
“So, while I do not think the issue is too difficult, I feel he deserves it.” I understand that different opinions are valid.
He said: “I know there are strong opinions on the Iraq War, they were back then and still are. But that doesn’t detract the fact that Tony Blair, a very successful prime Minister of this country, made a tremendous difference in the lives of millions.
Sir Tony (68) led Labour Party to an overwhelming victory at the 1997 general elections.
Then he won two more general elections and quit Westminster 10 years later when he gave the keys of Number 10 to Gordon Brown, his chancellor.
Boris Johnson has been urged to sign a Change.org petition to ask Sir Tony for this honor to be removed from Her Majesty.
During the Allied invasions in Afghanistan and Iraq by the Allies, he served as prime minister.
Former barrister and diplomat became Middle East envoy after leaving politics. He also established the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, a non-profit organisation.
Each year, Royal Knights and Ladies of the Order of the Garter gather at St George’s Chapel in Windsor for a colourful procession and ceremony.
As they make their way down the hill from their state apartments to the chapel, crowds observe. They are wearing blue velvet mantles and red velvet hoods as well as white ostrich plumes.
Buckingham Palace had three new appointments for Sir Tony who left Downing Street over 14 years earlier.