It is usual for a Prime Minister to receive knighthood after their term in office. But Tony Blair was not awarded one because the Queen did not allow it. The reason was due to the way Tony Blair handled the arrangements for Diana’s funeral. The result has been that subsequent Prime Ministers have also been denied a knighthood because a precedent has been set. Is the Queen being unreasonable or did she make the right decision?
No but I base this on his dragging us into an unwanted war. Plus, he completely ignored the will of the people who took to the streets, clearly sending him the message, this is not our war. No WMDs found but he was further responsible and party to, the fear of terrorism and atrocities, worldwide.
I agree Charleygirl. Honours should be extraordinary effort eg Captain Tom and all the unsung people who do so much for others. They shouldn't be for people just doing their jobs eg civil servants etc
Do you think its recognition giving him an Empire medal/title? It may have escaped your notice but the "empire" is long gone.though WM thinks it still exists by. controlling Scotland .Imperialistic nonsense well past its sell by date .Should have been left in the middle ages where it belonged ..this is the 21st century for heavens sake not the 15th!
I wouldn’t scrap honors altogether as many are well deserved recognition, for example the fantastic Captain Tom last year, knighted by the Queen. We should be proud of his achievements.
If the Queen was looking after her two grandsons in Balmoral why did she agree to stick them in the back of a car and parade them past the gawking public the morning their mother died. They then had to sit through a church service where the death of their mother wasn't even mentioned. The public mood was getting very hostile towards the Queen and the rest of the RF, Blair's suggestion they return to London helped calm the public mood. As for the Royal Yacht - the following is from the official Britannia website:: "On 23 June 1994, John Major's Government announced there would be no refit for HMY Britannia as the costs would be too great." Yet the Tories have always been happy to let Blair take the blame. I'll never understand why Blair went along with George W Bush in the Iraq war but don't forget him and his government also brought peace to Northern Ireland after years of bitter conflict.
The Iraq war was a disaster as so many members of the general public and a small number of MP's predicted it would be. The anti invasion marches were huge but were ignored. Those of us marching and many who stayed at home, predicted this country would suffer because of that invasion and so we have. That aside (as if it ever could be) the Blair government achieved Sure Start, improvements in Education, Health, social justice. It wasn't a perfect government but its hard not to compare it with the current gang on incompetents. I agree with those who say Blair shouldn't be knighted because of the Iraq war.