Military mothers describe Tony Blair's knighthood as the 'ultimate insult''

Military mothers have described Tony Blair's knighthood as the 'ultimate insult' while social media users have branded the former-Prime Minister a war criminal and more than 100,000 signed a petition for his honour to be taken back. 

The mothers, who lost their children in Afghanistan, have spoken out against Sir Tony's knighthood and have threatened to return Elizabeth Crosses which are given to bereaved families to show their disgust.

One military mother, Carol Valentine, told the Mirror that Sir Tony's knighthood is the 'ultimate insult', after her son Simon was killed while he cleared land mines in Afghanistan in 2009.

And Hazel Hunt, whose son Richard died in Afghanistan, was pondering sending back the Elizabeth Cross that her family had received as a mark of protest.    

Another military mother, Caroline Whitaker, who lost son Gareth after he was shot dead by an Afghanistan police officer in 2012 said she felt the establishment was 'making a mockery' of hers and other children's deaths.   

On Twitter, many made their feelings clear following the ennobling. Political commentator Liam Young wrote: 'The man should be in the dock of The Hague. What a shameful day.' 

Another said: 'The contempt in which Britain's elite holds the public has never been more eloquently expressed than in the decision to award Tony Blair the highest order of knighthood. One million Iraqis dead, three million dispossessed, a trail of blood to 7/7. Rise Sir Tony!' 

The appointment of Sir Tony in the Order of the Garter on Friday night also led to a petition being launched on Change.org by Angus Scott shortly after he was knighted which has now reached 100,000 signatures.

Furious members of the public have rallied against his appointment and signed the petition since Friday. 

In an explanation in his petition, Mr Scott wrote: '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 servicement in various conflicts. For this alone he should be held accountable for war crimes.' 

Backlash occurred as the ex-prime minister has faced criticism for many years for sending troops into Afghanistan and Iraq and many branded him a 'war criminal' who they did not believe worthy of a knighthood.   

Current Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer MP, said: 'The last Labour government delivered enduring change from the national minimum wage to the peace process in Northern Ireland.

'My congratulations to Tony Blair on this recognition for his public service to our country.'

Sir Tony's predecessors bar one were all appointed to the Order of the Garter just after leaving office.

However, it took more than 14 years for his own appointment to occur after his time as prime minister of the UK. 

Claims have been made that his strained relationship with the Queen during his office might have contributed to the 'snub.'  

Sir Tony has faced years of criticism over the Iraq War, culminating in the devastating report by Sir John Chilcot in 2016, which found that the former prime minister overplayed evidence about Saddam Hussein's weaponry and ignored peaceful means to send troops into the country. 

In a devastating set of conclusions, Sir John found Blair presented the case for war with 'a certainty which was not justified' based on 'flawed' intelligence about Iraq's supposed weapons of mass destruction (WMD). 

Blair then said he would 'take the same decision' to invade Iraq again if he was presented with the same intelligence as he set out a defiant defence after being savaged by the Chilcot report.

The former prime minister put on a bullish performance as he responded to the long-awaited report and although he made a grovelling apology for the bloody consequences of the Iraq War, he attempted to shift the blame by saying the intelligence was not his responsibility.

In a remarkable performance of self-defence at a special press conference that lasted for nearly two hours, the visibly humbled former prime minister described the decision to take military action to remove Hussein in 2003 as the 'hardest, most momentous, most agonising' of his 10 years in office. 

At several points during his speech at Admiralty House in Whitehall he appeared to be close to tears as he accepted the 'serious criticisms' made of him and his government in the run up and aftermath of the Iraq War and said he accepted 'full responsibility, without exception, without excuse'.

Responding to the publication of the Iraq War report, his voice cracked as he said: 'For all of this I express more sorrow, regret and apology than you may ever know or can believe.' 

He added later: 'The decisions I made I have carried with me for 13 years and will do so for the rest of my days. 'There will not be a day of my life where I do not relive and rethink what happened.

But he claimed the Iraq Inquiry proved 'there were no lies' from him over the justification for invading Iraq in March 2003 and showed neither Parliament nor Cabinet were misled. 

And in the most extraordinary moment of his lengthy speech, Mr Blair insisted: 'If I was back in the same place, with the same information I would take the same decision because obviously that was the decision I believe was right. 

'All I'm saying today, because obviously some of the intelligence has turned out to be wrong, the planning wasn't done properly, I have to accept those criticisims, I accept responsibility for them.' 

In another criticism on social media, John Smith – the son of Second World War veteran and writer Harry Leslie Smith – said the decision suggested it was 'okay' to kill people in their 'hundreds of thousands.'

 Sir Tony, who held the keys to Number 10 between 1997 and 2007, is appointed a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, the oldest and most senior British Order of Chivalry.

The appointment, which is made by the Queen, has regularly been bestowed upon past prime ministers, with Sir John Major, Sir Tony's predecessor, the last to receive the honour.

Sir Tony, a former Labour leader, said: 'It is an immense honour to be appointed Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, and I am deeply grateful to Her Majesty the Queen.

'It was a great privilege to serve as prime minister and I would like to thank all those who served alongside me, in politics, public service and all parts of our society, for their dedication and commitment to our country.'

Sir Tony led New Labour to a landslide victory in 1997, winning two subsequent general elections before quitting Westminster a decade later, paving the way for his chancellor Gordon Brown to take over as prime minister.

The 68-year-old famously branded Diana, Princess of Wales, the 'people's princess' after her death and was the UK leader during Allied military invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan.

The former barrister became a Middle East envoy and set up his own non-for-profit group, the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, after leaving politics.

Each year, Royal Knights and Ladies of the Order of the Garter gather at St George's Chapel in Windsor for a colourful procession and ceremony.

Watched by crowds of onlookers, they walk down the hill to the chapel from the State Apartments, dressed in blue velvet mantles, red velvet hoods, black velvet hats and white ostrich plumes.

Sir Tony, who left Downing Street more than 14 years ago, is one of three new appointments announced by the palace.

Appointments to the Garter are in the Queen's gift and made without prime ministerial advice, and are usually announced on St George's Day, April 23, but the monarch can do so at any time, and has chosen to coincide with the New Year's Honours.

They are for life unless a Knight or Lady Companion offends against certain 'points of reproach'.

Founded in 1348 by Edward III, the Garter is awarded by the sovereign for outstanding public service and achievement.

It is said to have been inspired by events at a ball in northern France, attended by the king and Joan, Countess of Salisbury.

The countess is believed to have dropped her garter, causing laughter and some embarrassment.

The chivalrous king, however, picked it up and wore it on his own leg, uttering the phrase 'Honi soit qui mal y pense' - 'Shame on him who thinks this evil' - now the Order's motto.

The Order's emblem is a blue ribbon or garter worn by men below the left knee and by women on the left arm.

There are now 21 non-royal companions in the order out of a maximum of 24.

Arise, Sir Covid!: Government scientific advisers Chris Whitty and Jonathan Van-Tam are knighted and rewards for Kate Garraway, Sir Patrick Vallance and public health chief Dr Jenny Harries for 'Covid-related services' in the 2022 New Year's Honours list

Britain's Covid heroes are recognised in the New Year Honours, with top gongs for Government scientific advisers Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance – and an MBE for Kate Garraway.

The scientists were among hundreds who were awarded for 'Covid-related service', which accounted for nearly a fifth of all those recognised.

Meanwhile TV presenter Miss Garraway, 54, received her honour for services to broadcasting after documenting husband Derek Draper's battle with the illness.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: 'It has been a privilege to work with such dedicated professionals who have worked relentlessly throughout the pandemic providing expert advice so we can keep people safe.

'This year the Honours List rightly recognises those whose efforts have helped us deliver world-leading testing and vaccination programmes, and I am deeply grateful for their hard work.' 

Chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick, 61, will get an upgrade to become a knight commander of the Order of the Bath.