More than a million people have signed a petition against the knighting of “war criminal” Tony Blair

Tony Blair – © AFP

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, 68, who has been awarded a Knight by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, on Sunday hit back at the many people who think he should not receive that tribute for his responsibility for Britain’s participation in the war in Iraq.

GVsource: Belgian

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Blair was one of Britain’s most famous prime ministers. 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have so far signed an online petition demanding that the honors that was paid to him at the start of the new year be rescinded. They accuse Tony Blair of committing “war crimes”.

Blair responded on Sunday, saying he accepted this tribute not only to “himself as a person”, but also to his “dedicated and committed” staff, who have brought about “many changes in the country”. “Obviously people were very against this. That was to be expected,” Blair told Radio Times. “There are those who want to say that all the government has done is Iraq, and they want to ignore everything else.”