Tony Blair told the truth. There was no attempt to deceive. 'Please stop saying that I lied.' He asked of his audience and of the nation as he faced reporters today.
Finally, after seven long years, the Chilcot report has been published. It is unforgiving in its criticism of decisions made and actions taken, but it categorically states that Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, the winner of three consecutive election victories for Labour, something no other Labour Prime Minister has ever achieved, did not lie.
I am really pleased that Sir John Chilcot found Blair not to have lied. Ever since the accusation that Blair was lying in order to secure military action against Iraq, I have never believed it. Yes, in my view, the invasion was a mistake, but hindsight is a glorious thing. It saddens me that so many Labour supporters chose to believe that Blair was lying and that they were so quick to sneer and condemn. Why were they so willing to believe he lied? Was it that they were eager to believe he lied because that way further ignominy would rain on Blair's head? I think that was the case. Damn him and damn him again. He was their quarry and they would take him down. An unpleasant trait of human nature if ever there was one.
In May 1997, Tony Blair was elected Prime Minister after eighteen long years of Tory governments. Neil Kinnock nearly did it in 1992, but we had to wait five long years before Blair finally did it for Labour. I was absolutely delighted. He grasped the nettle and changes for the better were effected in health and education. Who can forget Blair's, 'My three main priorities for government are education, education, education?'
It is undeniable that Blair did good work. This must not be forgotten. But sadly, I believe that it will be and that Blair will be remembered for his ill-conceived invasion of Iraq. 'Shock and awe' filled our screens as Iraq was hit in such dramatic and monstrous fashion. Did anyone else feel that this show of military might was just too much and that humility was sadly lacking? Should humility have been a part of it though? Was the aim not just to finish off Saddam Hussein and his torturing sons once and for all? Or should the civilians, who were undoubtedly killed, have been given greater consideration? Of course, history will be the judge of that as it will be the judge of us all, including Tony Blair. As he said, 'I express more regret and sorrow than you can believe.' And, 'There will not be a day in my life when I do not relive and rethink what happened.'
Today, Tony Blair appeared as a broken man. In such nerve shattering circumstances, all Tony Blair's wealth, for which he has been roundly criticised, is of no help at all. From this, money is no saviour.
What was particularly striking was the fact that Blair was more than generous in the number of questions he allowed, some of which were harsh and probing. Admirably, Blair never faltered. He gave the truth, his truth and that is all any of us can ever do.
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