Blair was one of the most popular British Prime Ministers. He was elected three times. But his reputation was irreparably damaged by his decision to involve his country in the war in Iraq in 2003.
More than 1.1 million people have now signed an online petition calling for the cancellation of the tribute paid to him at the start of this new year. They accuse Tony Blair of committing “war crimes”.
Blair responded on Sunday, saying he has accepted the honor not only “for himself as a person”, but also for his “dedicated and committed” employees, who have brought about “many changes in the country”. “Obviously people were strongly against this. That was to be expected,” Blair told Times Radio.
“There are those who want to say that the only thing the government did was Iraq, and who want to ignore everything else,” Blair said.