Tony Blair’s knighthood sparks protest petition over Iraq War

An effort to strip the former British prime minister of the honour has garnered more than 700,000 signatures.

A 2009 inquiry into the UK’s role in the Iraq war concluded that Tony Blair overstated the threat posed by Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Picture: AFP

A petition to strip former British prime minister Tony Blair of a knighthood has garnered more than 700,000 signatures in a show of anger over his role in leading the UK to war in Iraq nearly two decades ago.

The Queen appointed Mr Blair as a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter on January 1.

Soon after the announcement, a petition was launched calling for Mr Blair’s knighthood to be rescinded. It accuses him of damaging the UK and holds him responsible for the deaths of civilians and servicemen in conflicts overseas. “For this alone he should be held accountable for war crimes,” it reads.

Mr Blair didn’t respond to a request for comment.

A 2009 inquiry into the UK’s role in the Iraq war concluded that Mr Blair overstated the threat posed by Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, an assessment that underpinned the decision to join the US-led invasion. It also found he misled parliament in presenting invasion as a last resort, which British MPs backed.

Former prime ministers are typically rewarded with knighthoods, with Tory John Major, who served immediately before Labour’s Mr Blair, the last to receive the honour. Sir John received the honour eight years after leaving office. By contrast, 14 years have passed since Mr Blair left office in 2007. During that time, the former barrister has served as Middle East envoy and set up his own non-profit organisation, the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change.

Angus Scott, a voice artist from Norfolk, launched the petition soon after he heard the news of Mr Blair’s knighthood.

“I’m not a politically active person but I felt I needed to stand up and say ‘no’,” he said. He didn’t expect the response the petition has provoked.

Some who signed the petition questioned Mr Blair’s track record in office and his efforts to push the Labour Party to the centre ground. “He tinkered with every institution and ushered in policies that saw the growth of identity politics and cultural Marxism,” wrote Mark Moseley on the petition’s website.

Labour was voted out of power in 2010 and has been in an electoral wilderness ever since. The party swung to the hard left. Current Labour leader Keir Starmer is attempting to move it back to the centre again after the party was soundly beaten by the Conservative Party in a 2019 election.

The petition has no legal impact and it is unlikely the Queen will rescind the knighthood.

Mr Blair described the knighthood as “an immense honour”.

The origins of the Order of the Garter trace back to a 14th century ball during which a garter slipped off the leg of a noblewoman who was dancing with King Edward III. To spare the lady’s embarrassment, the king picked up the garter and put it on his own leg, saying, “Honi soit qui mal y pense” (shame on anyone who thinks evil of this) and remains the motto of the order.

Membership of the order is limited to the monarch, the Prince of Wales and no more than 24 members. Appointments are made at the sovereign’s sole discretion. That is unlike most other honours, recipients of which are chosen on the advice of the prime minister.

Other honours granted this year went to scientists involved in the response to the pandemic, including the chief medical officer for England, Chris Whitty, along with his counterparts in Scotland and Wales. Actor Daniel Craig was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, the same as his alter ego James Bond. And 19-year-old tennis player Emma Raducanu, who won the US Open last year, was made a MBE.

Honours can be withdrawn if a recipient’s subsequent behaviour doesn’t befit the title. George Castledine, a professor of nursing, had his knighthood cancelled in 2015 after being found guilty of misconduct. Banker Fred Goodwin also lost his title for his management of the Royal Bank of Scotland, which the government was forced to bail out, with far-reaching consequences for the economy.

The Wall Street Journal