Keir Starmer, while approving a knighthood for Tony Blair, notes that Iraq remains an issue for many (UK government urged to rescind Tony Blair’s knighthood, 4 January). The problem is that elevating the former prime minister to the Order of the Garter is an official attempt to say that the Iraq war doesn’t matter any more. The current Labour leader had it right when, as a QC and human rights lawyer, he wrote in the Guardian on 17 March 2003 that “flawed advice does not make the unlawful use of force lawful”. Many of us remember the point; it’s a pity Sir Keir seems to have forgotten it.
Keith Flett
Tottenham, London
• In 1928, a particularly useless, irresponsible and profligate Lord Lonsdale was made a Knight of the Garter by George V, an act described by a courtier of the time as “sheer tomfoolery”. At least Lonsdale didn’t lead us into unnecessary wars, but now we have Tony Blair, who did. I realise that the Garter is in the Queen’s personal gift, but how can her advisers be so out of touch with the mood of the nation? This year Tony Blair, next year Boris Johnson?
Dr Patrick Hoyte
Wootton Courtenay, Somerset
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