Veterans blast ‘detested' Blair as 500,000 join protest at gong

HALF a million people have signed a petition demanding Tony Blair is stripped of the knighthood he received in the New Year's Honours.

- Martyn Brown

As the number has topped 100,000, it could mean MPs debating whether the former Labour prime minister, 68, should have the honour rescinded.

Northern Ireland veterans branded it an “insult”, while military mothers threatened to return Elizabeth Crosses given to bereaved families.

Sir Tony was made Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, an honour bestowed on all bar one of his predecessors. The exception was Alec Douglas-Home, who got the Order of the Thistle.