Welsh Labour MP Chris Bryant defends Tony Blair’s knighthood
A Welsh Labour MP has defended the decision to award Tony Blair a knighthood.
Chris Bryant leaped to the defence of the former British Prime Minister after the move to give him the gong came in for heavy criticism.
It was announced in the New Year’s Eve honours list that Blair will be made a Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter. Appointments to the order of chivalry are made at the Queen’s sole discretion.
Almost a million people have signed a petition which calls for it to be rescinded by the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
It says that Blaire “caused irreparable damage to both the constitution of the United Kingdom and to the very fabric of the nation’s society” and points to his role in “various conflicts”.
The petition’s author, Angus Scott, clashed with Bryant about the knighthood on BBC Politics Live.
Bryant argued that the Order of the Garter honour is routinely given to former prime ministers.
‘Rough game’
“Politics is a rough game and no politician is perfect, as it happens I voted for the Iraq war. I certainly voted for devolution,” he said.
He added: “I’m a gay man – it was thanks to Tony Blair’s legislation that I was able to enter a civil partnership.”
He credited Blair with “radically transforming Britain” on issues such as housing and the NHS.
Scott said: “There is a balance of the scales,” adding “and on the one side, you have his good deeds – the gay thing, et cetera.”
“The gay thing?” Bryant replied. “The gay thing? Is that how you describe it? Really?”
Scott said: “I beg your pardon… I forget the legal terms.”
Bryant accused Scott of “betraying” himself.
Scott replied that he is a “complete supporter of that”.
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“Bryant argued that the Order of the Garter honour is routinely given to war criminals and child molesters.” There Bryant, I fixed it for you, you little worm.
Bryant represents everything I hate about the Labour Party.
they are two cut from the same cloth – opportunist tories.
Just more proof that arse lickers and chancers aren’t confined to the Tory Party. Representative politics draws them like moths to a flame.
Birds of a feather: Egocentric and Machiavellian.
Never realised that Chris Bryant was gay. He’s certainly never mentioned it before.
You never saw his picture he uploaded in his underpants.
Your irony is so strong it almost removed the wrinkles on their faces !
Would he be saying that if he had one of his children killed or very badly injured in the illegal wars of Tony Blaire probably Millions have been killed ànd people are still getting killed out there
Why do the voters of Rhondda put up with this toadying little sycophant? It never ceases to amaze me that they haven’t turfed him out of his seat. Out for himself and nobody else.
Arguably Blair getting honoured demonstrates how awful the honour’s system is and annoys the right more than anyone.
Sir Tony wants to be a member of the same club as Sir Robert Mugabe, Sir Nicolai Ceaucescu and Sir Benito Mussolini? Fair enough.
Please make sure you use the link in the article and sign the petition. Thank you
I have just voted to take it off him
Over a million signatures now! Not that the welfare recipient in Buck Palace and numerous other residences will give a toss about that.
By the way, he’s definitely not Welsh! He no doubt needed a satnav to find the constituency where he was parachuted in, to ensure his own future financial security. Good luck in getting the UKGov to pay for the removal of the tips Chris. I’m sure you’re knocking yourself out to achieve that!
Aberfan obviously wasn’t enough of an embarrassment to Labour, Tories, the establishment, to make them give something back in exchange for the billions extracted from Cymru from the profits of coal mining. You’re just another exploiting parasite. You and your like are truly beneath contempt.