SIR Tony Blair ?

Forsythia. Precisely.

tickingbird

*Algerias*. So I googled that phrase.

Really? I’m shocked!!

Whitewavemark2

Queen has awarded him the Order of the Garter, so presumably she doesn’t think him too bad.

I don't think she's too keen on him, perhaps that's why he had to wait so long, because it's usually an automatic knighthood for ex Prime Ministers.

Perhaps she kept procrastinating.

Why now, after 14 years. Why?

CoolCoco

Didn't Thatcher give herself an hereditary peerage ? She wrecked British manufacturing and ruined social housing for a generation.

She made a fortune helping to sell cigarettes to third world countries. I ‘m not aware of Tony Blair doing anything as insidious as that since he left office. And he didn’t create a war to save his political career like some have. He made one mistake and that mistake was enormous but I had never thought I would see an end to the troubles: he was also instrumental in bringing about peace to Yugoslavia. Saddam Hussein was slaughtering his own people: he was a tyrannical leader who needed taking out; the problem being it was badly thought through. Blair didn’t single handedly start the war with Iraq and it was voted through by parliament. Both he and Gordon Brown have spoken more sense regarding the pandemic than anyone in the current government has. If the Union is falling apart that’s down to the EU referendum, not devolution because, prior to that Scotland voted to remain in the union. Or is my memory failing me again?

Iam64

His government made a huge and positive contribution to poverty stricken areas. Community schools, Sure Start, Newpin, investment in hospitals, education, health. After years of neglect, many school. Hospital buildings needed refurb or rebuild.
I agree with the negative comments about Iraq.

He did but everyone remembers Iraq and the lies.

The Stafford Hospital scandal happened in his watch too. There are many who will never forget that.
Hospital care was no better under New Labour than previously as far as my own and my family's experience goes.

Another plus is stopping smoking in public places.

Every government has its pluses and minuses.

humptydumpty

Yes, I feel he probably saved the royal family when the response to Diana's death was tone-deaf. Also he brought about the Good Friday agreement, which has probably save many lives - so although I agree about Iraq war he was by no means all bad.

No - he did not allow two young boys to grieve the shock of losing their mother or their grandmother time to comfort them. He wanted them to be put on public display so that the mawkish wailing public could watch them trying not to break down and cry.
Disgraceful.

Urmstongran

That said, we do forget Sir Philip Green ? and Sir Jimmy Savile ??

And Sir Mark Thatcher.

Jaberwok
You already said all that, better than me ?

well it's the personal gift of the queen, so it's up to her.
maybe he declined to accept other offers from politicians.
the kosovans regard him as a saint; whatever else he did, they regard him as having saved many of their lives.
there are many children there named, tonibler.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonibler

I worked with vulnerable families and everyone of them were in a better situation under Blair than they are now. Particularly children.

Disgusting!
I’m sure his odious wife will happily accept her title despite being anti monarchist and refusing once to curtesy to Her Majesty.

Petition

www.change.org/p/the-prime-minister-tony-blair-to-have-his-knight-companion-of-the-most-noble-order-of-the-garter-rescinded?recruiter=45962603&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&utm_term=psf_combo_share_initial&recruited_by_id=af0da100-7db6-0130-4c29-3c764e044346&utm_content=fht-31890838-en-gb%3A0

I think having to curtesy to anyone is bonkers.

Just another with blood on his hands being awarded for causing the deaths of thousands…..cue Johnson, next in the greedy self serving line.

I have no admiration for those simply in the right place at the right time being applauded and receiving an award for, ‘their achievements’. So many unsung heroes quietly doing good work without being constantly on our TV screens or virtue signalling their support in giving to charities. Sickening!

More harm can be done to children not allowed to attend a parent’s funeral. Diana’s boys did what many grief stricken children have had to endure. Forget about what adults decide, listening to the children’s decisions is what is important.

Agree with you entirely, Urmstongran.
"Couldn't have put it better myself"!

I think it's highly likely that at some stage Johnson will receive an honour. It's generally what happens to ex PMs, although as yet Brown and Cameron havent and May but theres plenty of time for that to happen.

They didn’t receive one because Blair hadn’t had his. They couldn’t receive theirs until he did.

But they will receive them as I think will Johnson when he finally disappears.

Saddam Hussein was slaughtering his own people: he was a tyrannical leader who needed taking out;

Yes and how did that work out for you? Isis filled the vacuum left by Saddam’s removal. The evil visited upon the people there by those bloodthirsty sadists made Saddam look like a choirboy. We have no right to be ‘taking out’ anyone as you put it. Blair was playing up to Bush and his desire to be a major player on the world stage. If he had any decency he would just disappear from public view altogether.

Galaxy

I worked with vulnerable families and everyone of them were in a better situation under Blair than they are now. Particularly children.

quite

Anniebach

Read the O/P

rude
but as the site isn't moderated, carry on as you are

tickingbird

*Saddam Hussein was slaughtering his own people: he was a tyrannical leader who needed taking out;*

Yes and how did that work out for you? Isis filled the vacuum left by Saddam’s removal. The evil visited upon the people there by those bloodthirsty sadists made Saddam look like a choirboy. We have no right to be ‘taking out’ anyone as you put it. Blair was playing up to Bush and his desire to be a major player on the world stage. If he had any decency he would just disappear from public view altogether.

I do think the problems we have now with ISIS terrorists worldwide emanate from the illegal Iraq war.

Every person killed or maimed by an ISIS terrorist leaves their blood on the hands or Messrs. Blair and Bush.

More harm can be done to children not allowed to attend a parent’s funeral. Diana’s boys did what many grief stricken children have had to endure. Forget about what adults decide, listening to the children’s decisions is what is important.

It wasn't the attending of the funeral, Kalu, it was quite right that they should have been there.

It was the forcing them out of their sanctuary at Balmoral and forcing them to walk amongst the public, shaking hands, inspecting flowers and having to speak to members of the public that was wrong.
They were just children

MayBee70

CoolCoco

Didn't Thatcher give herself an hereditary peerage ? She wrecked British manufacturing and ruined social housing for a generation.

She made a fortune helping to sell cigarettes to third world countries. I ‘m not aware of Tony Blair doing anything as insidious as that since he left office. And he didn’t create a war to save his political career like some have. He made one mistake and that mistake was enormous but I had never thought I would see an end to the troubles: he was also instrumental in bringing about peace to Yugoslavia. Saddam Hussein was slaughtering his own people: he was a tyrannical leader who needed taking out; the problem being it was badly thought through. Blair didn’t single handedly start the war with Iraq and it was voted through by parliament. Both he and Gordon Brown have spoken more sense regarding the pandemic than anyone in the current government has. If the Union is falling apart that’s down to the EU referendum, not devolution because, prior to that Scotland voted to remain in the union. Or is my memory failing me again?

Good post. Reasoned.