Petition calling for Tony Blair to be stripped of knighthood hits 1,000,000 signatures

It has taken only a week for the petition criticising the previous prime minister to hit the landmark (Image: Getty)

A petition calling for Tony Blair to be stripped of an honour has hit a million signatures.

The previous prime minister was appointed Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter by the Queen final week, probably the most senior knighthood within the British system.

Sir Tony described the information as an ‘immense honour’ however the response from the general public has been break up.

The ex-Labour chief stays a divisive determine, primarily for his choice to affix the US-led invasion of Iraq.

A years-long investigation into the circumstances across the conflict discovered essential intelligence on weapons of mass destruction was ‘introduced with a certainty that was not justified’.

The 2016 Chilcot Inquiry additionally stated army power was deployed earlier than diplomatic choices had been exhausted, a damning discovering which Sir Tony disputes.

A Change.org petition was arrange by Angus Scott, a voice over artist from Norfolk, and has gained large traction on-line.

Sir Tony’s choice to push for the UK to affix the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan has made his legacy extremely divisive (Image: PA)

The petition has garnered large assist in a small period of time (Image: Change.org)

He informed Metro.co.uk: ‘Though I knew deep down on this nation there's a large, seething resentment of Tony Blair, I solely anticipated a couple of thousand signatures from individuals who felt the identical approach as me. 

‘When he was prime minister, he hoodwinked lots of people to vote for him however now we will analyse his legacy with 14 years of hindsight and may see every little thing he did, bar a couple of exceptions, has turned out to be essentially flawed and disastrous for this nation.

‘As time has unfolded, an increasing number of folks have realised this man and his insurance policies are poisonous, and that’s why so many have signed the petition.’

Sir Tony gained three basic elections and was a potent political power, having fun with large reputation in the course of the early levels of his tenure.

However he was a extremely controversial determine by the point he left Downing Avenue in 2007, regardless of having gained an election simply two years earlier.

A 2021 YouGov ballot discovered Sir Tony was disliked by 57% of respondents and appreciated by simply 22%.

His relationship with US president George W Bush has develop into a defining characteristic of his legacy (Image: AFP)

The person making an attempt to emulate his success, Sir Keir Starmer, defended the honour, saying: ‘Tony Blair modified the lives of hundreds of thousands of individuals for the higher.

‘He launched a minimal wage, he arrange Positive Begin for younger households that modified lives, put cash into hospitals and into faculties and naturally was a key participant within the peace settlement in Northern Eire.’

Appointments to the Garter are within the Queen’s reward and made with out prime ministerial recommendation, and are normally introduced on St George’s Day, April 23, however she will be able to achieve this at any time, and has chosen this one to coincide with the New 12 months Honours.

Liberal Democrat chief stated it was ‘disrespectful’ to the Queen to query the appointment. 

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