Congratulations, Sir Tony

Submitted by AWL on 8 January, 2022 - 6:15 Author: Mohan Sen
Blair

In about a week over a million people have signed a petition to rescind Tony Blair’s knighthood.

(According to Private Eye, the reason Blair has got a knighthood rather than a peerage is that he doesn’t want his financial dealings subject to the minimal scrutiny parliamentarians must submit to.)

Some on the organised left are pushing the petition. It is being pushed hard by the Stop the War coalition and by self-described revolutionary socialists within it (notably Counterfire).

Of course Blair should be condemned. The sentiments motivating many or most of those signing the petition are probably left-wing. It's understandable why people would want to sign. But this is not a good focus for the left.

The actual wording of the petition is not left-wing. It says that “Tony Blair caused irreparable damage to... the constitution of the United Kingdom”, as if that constitution is something we should defend (criticising the anti-democratic thrust of Blair’s politics and his governments is something else). Moreover it says: “Tony Blair is the least deserving person of any public honour, particularly anything awarded by Her Majesty the Queen. We petition the Prime Minister to petition Her Majesty to have this honour removed.”

The idea that Blair, awful as he was and is in so many respects, is qualitatively worse than those running the current regime, or many other recipients of "honours", is bizarre. (Supposedly left-wing actress Vanessa Redgrave, who rejected a damehood from Blair’s government, explicitly because it was Blair – while lavishly praising the monarchy – has now accepted the same thing from Boris Johnson.)

In any case, the honours system exists primarily and fundamentally for the ruling class to reward, promote and give patronage to certain of its members (and a few others around the edges); and to encourage grovelling and forelock-tugging from the working class, reinforcing social hierarchies. Why is that something the left and the workers’ movement should treat as positive and valuable?

When the likes of Blair are appointed to a high-up position in a corporation, that is obviously a benefit from their point of view – but it would be bizarre for us to lobby against it.

Promoting a big petition may make left-wingers feel good. But this agitation will do little to undermine the political right or the establishment, much less the ruling class; and even less to develop the consciousness of those angry at Blair or draw them into struggles.

Petitions calling on the actually respect-worthy not to accept honours would be much better!

We need to oppose the whole honours system, as part of opposition to the pseudo-feudal and monarchical trappings of the British state – and to the whole framework of class privilege and capitalist rule. We should make the case for and try to popularise the demand to end the honours system, as part of a wider fight for democracy and equality.

Blair should be welcome to his knighthood. The more such things are discredited the better.

This website uses cookies, you can find out more and set your preferences here.
By continuing to use this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.