Sir Keir Starmer, Labour leader, said that the Prime Minister had not “earned the right” to a knighthood after he has left office.
Sir Keir rejected criticisms of Sir Tony Blair’s knighthood, insisting that the Prime Minister from 1997 to 2007 deserved this honour.
Over half a million people signed a petition asking for Sir Tony’s removal from the Order of the Garter because of his domestic record.
Sir Keir argued that this honour, which is the oldest British Order of Chivalry and the most senior in the country, was not an issue of ‘thorny’. He also stated that Tony was a very successful prime minister.
Sir Keir spoke in Birmingham on Labour’s priorities in 2022. He was also asked questions about former prime minister Johnson’s knighthood and whether he should be honored in the future.
He replied, “No, sorry, but I do not believe that the Prime Minister deserves an honor.” Tony Blair, I believe has.
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Sir Keir Sterner has rejected criticisms about Sir Tony Blair’s knighthood. He insists that the former prime minister merits the honour.
He stated that there was “a world of difference” between Sir Tony Johnson and Mr Johnson.
He stated:[Sir Tony]He introduced the minimum wage and set up Sure Start to help young families. This changed their lives and put money in schools, hospitals, and was an important player in the Northern Ireland peace process.
He continued, “So I think there is a world difference between (men) in my book.”
Sir Keir paid tribute in his speech to past Labour governments, including Wilson, Blair and Attlee. He also said that they had’made Britain better’.
He stated, “We must be those who write the fourth Chapter.” These are the people that create a 21st-century Britain.
After reports that Tony had been delayed from receiving the honor, Sir Tony could be knighted and allow his successors to receive similar honours.
By Tuesday morning, more than 544,000 had signed an online petition at Change.Org calling for Sir Tony not to receive the honor.
Sir Keir, however, stated that it was not thorny and that he is worthy of the honor. I understand that different opinions are valid.
Sir Keir stated that there was “a world of difference” between Boris Johnson and Sir Tony (pictured), while adding, “Tony Blair has changed the livesof millions of people for better.”
I understand that there are strong views about the Iraq War. These were present at the time, and still exist today. However that does not diminish the fact Tony Blair was an extremely successful prime minister and has made a significant difference in millions’s lives.
Maggie Throup, the vaccines minister, said to LBC that he had done many good deeds. It’s right to honor our former prime ministers. He was the prime minister of such an extended period.
To hint at the possibility that Theresa May and David Cameron could also be honored, she stated: “I believe obviously it now opens up the doors for other people to be recognized in the same manner.”
Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Commons Speaker, suggested that former prime ministers be granted a knighthood as ‘it’s one of the most difficult jobs in the entire world.