Sir Tony Blair: Petition calling for former PM to be stripped of knighthood reaches 670,000 signatures | UK News

A petition calling for Sir Tony Blair to be stripped of his knighthood has been signed by more than 670,000 people.

The former prime minister was made a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter in the Queen’s New Year’s honours list.

However, a petition started three days ago has said he is the “least deserving of any public honour” due to his involvement in the Iraq War.

As the petition ticked beyond 670,000 on Tuesday evening, the Daily Mail published claims that Mr Blair’s defence secretary was ordered to “burn a secret memo” which said the 2003 invasion “could be illegal”.

‘He should be held accountable for war crimes’

The petition’s Change.org page says: “Tony Blair caused irreparable damage to both the constitution of the United Kingdom and to the very fabric of the nation’s society.

“He was personally responsible for causing the death of countless innocent, civilian lives and servicemen in various conflicts. For this alone he should be held accountable for war crimes.”

The Mail’s report, which references the petition, is based on comments by Geoff Hoon, who was Mr Blair’s defence secretary from 1999 to 2005.

Mr Hoon’s principal private secretary was reportedly told by Downing Street “in no uncertain terms” to burn a memo about the legality of the war. It was instead locked in a safe, he claims.

Mr Blair has previously described the claim as “nonsense”, the Mail says.

Starmer backs predecessor’s record

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer defended the decision to honour his predecessor, and insisted it is not a “thorny” issue, adding that Sir Tony had been a “very successful prime minister”.

The current Labour leader was…