SNP MP Angus MacNeil told MailOnline that the announcement of the knighthood for Sir Tony had been helpful for Mr Johnson. His twin, Mike Wilson, now 40, said he was 'disgusted' that the former premier was awarded a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter in the New Year Honours list, adding it is 'an insult to David's memory'. Lance Corporal David Wilson, who was 27 and from Spennymoor, County Durham, died from a gunshot wound at Basra airbase in 2008 where he served with 9 Regiment Army Air Corps. The twin brother of a soldier who died in Iraq said his 'blood ran cold' on hearing the news. 'When he was prime minister, he hoodwinked a lot of people to vote for him but now we can analyse his legacy with 14 years of hindsight and can see everything he did, bar a few exceptions, has turned out to be fundamentally flawed and disastrous for this country,' Mr Scott added. For this alone he should be held accountable for war crimes.' 'He was personally responsible for causing the death of countless innocent, civilian lives and servicement in various conflicts. 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. Mr Scott started his shortly after news of the award was published, stating that the ex-PM 'is the least deserving of any public honour', especially one only in the gift of The Queen. Unlike usual knight and damehoods, he received a Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter, the highest honour for civilian apart from the George Cross.
Sir Tony's inclusion in the New Year honours list has caused a storm, with experts saying the 14-year delay between his leaving office and getting the distinction showed the monarch was aware how much backlash there would be. The petition now stands at 650,000 signatories, including military veterans, the families of fallen UK service personnel and politicians angry over his role in the Iraq War The petition now stands at 650,000 signatories, including military veterans, the families of fallen UK service personnel and politicians angry over his role in the Iraq War. 'Ironically, he has at last united the nation on a subject, which is that people are very passionately angry about this one man.' 'Although I knew deep down in this country there is a huge, seething resentment of Tony Blair, I only expected a few thousand signatures from people who felt the same way as me. 'I'm astonished by the reaction,' he told the Metro. The man behind a petition to strip Sir Tony Blair of his knighthood said the former PM had 'united the nation' after more than 600,000 people protested the honour.Īngus Scott, 55, said he was 'astonished' by the response to his online petition aimed at stopping the former Labour leader from being elevated to the Order of the Garter.Īnd the voice artist and presenter believes that if Sir Tony's knighthood were put to a referendum tomorrow the vote would go much the same way as the public's reaction.