New Year Honours: A look at the highlights

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Ex-Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair was a recipient of the Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. More than half a million people have called on the Government to rescind the knighthood due to views on the Iraq war since receiving the title in the New Year’s honour list the Queen compiles each year. Mr Blair, who led Labour to three election victories, was prime minister during the military invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Royal pundit Neil Sean spoke about how the decision has sparked a political crisis for the Queen on his YouTube channel, Neil Sean’s Daily News Headlines.

He said: “What is interesting, is this recent political honour to an ex-Prime Minister, has caused something of shockwaves.

“If you’re not totally aware, It’s recently been announced that former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, will now be known as Sir Tony Blair, but that really kicked off a huge petition almost over 500,000 people so far.

“Now, we won’t go into all the political details because they’re all online, all in the newspapers and everyone knows them.

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“But the problem is now that the British Prime Minister The Right Honourable Boris Johnson, announced in a press conference directly from Downing Street, that he says it’s a matter for Her Majesty the Queen as to whether she now rescinds that offer of becoming a sir.

Mr Sean added: “Well, the bigger problem is that particular honour was put towards the board which Boris Johnson is part of. So it does seem that he’s slightly shifting the blame.

“Now what can be done? Where does that leave Her Majesty the Queen? Well, as you can imagine, she’s got quite a bit on her plate now with her family.

“The obvious thing would be that she could recall that honour, the gracious thing particularly on the side of the Right Honourable Tony Blair, would be that he rescinds the honour himself, but then a lot of people are saying, why should he?

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“It’s a raging debates that rolls on, and more importantly, one that leaves her Majesty in kind of a very delicate position.

“If she gives in and rescinds it after the advice of her courtiers, and of course her Government, then it looks like she’s made a mistake.”

He added: “But whose mistake is it? Now, you’ve got to remember that this honour has been offered to Mr.Blair for his political work, nothing to do, of course, with his private life, or indeed, the misgivings that he may have had making decisions while in government.

“It’s centers on all the good things that he’s done, the activities, the charities, that sort of stuff. So in light of that, 14 years after he left office, you can understand why Her Majesty thought perhaps he should indeed become a sir.”

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When current Prime Minister Boris Johnson was asked to comment, a spokesperson stated: “Appointments to the Order of the Garter are a matter for Her Majesty the Queen, there is no involvement of the prime minister or government, so it wouldn’t be one for me to comment on.”

He added: “I would point out every former prime minister before Tony Blair has received the Order of the Garter or Thistle.”

The appointment, which is made by the Queen, was last given to Sir John Major, Blair’s predecessor. 

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