From the start of the War on Terror in 2001, Blair strongly supported the US decision to invade Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003. The invasion of Iraq was particularly controversial because 139 of Blair's MPs were against it. As a result he was criticized for agreeing to invade a country that was developing weapons of mass destruction when in fact there weren't any. He was summoned to the Chilcot enquiry about it but he stood by his decision and said he would have supported removing Saddam Hussein from power even if there were no such weapons.
Yesterday, Blair decided to donate all the proceeds from his memoir to the Royal British Legion and his opponents are saying he's only doing it to repair his tarnished reputation. His book will be published next month and it's rumoured that protesters are planning to disrupt the launch.
The harshest comment about his gift is that it's "blood money" to compensate for the loss of lives in the conflicts while others have praised his generosity in helping to fund a new centre to rehabilitate wounded soldiers.
There is also criticism about his business dealings. He's been accused of building a fortune, helped along by a multi million dollar contract with investment bank JP Morgan, an advisory role for the insurance giant Zurich and earnings from the guest speaker circuit, being paid more per speech than President Clinton.
Blair's spokesman said he wanted to give to a charity for the armed forces "as a way of marking the enormous sacrifice they make for our people and the world. Tony Blair recognises the courage and sacrifice the Armed Forces demonstrate day in, day out. As Prime Minister, he witnessed that for himself in Iraq, Afghanistan, Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone and Kosovo. This is his way of honouring their courage and sacrifice".
Ex Minister Denis MacShane said "Not for the first time, Tony Blair trumps his critics. A bold act of generosity from a bold politician." But Peter Brierley whose son was killed in Iraq called it "blood money".
Clare Short a former Labor Cabinet Minister said "This demonstrates that he feels guilty, but it won't bring back lives. It's good to know that he feels guilty. In the Chilcot Inquiry he defended robustly what he has done - this indicates a different tune. But the donation doesn't wipe anything out, it just draws attention to it. It suggests he is haunted and that is good to know."
Stuart Allen, Chairman of the Legion's branch in Derbyshire said "As I don't think we should have gone into that war in the first place, I wonder if it's a guilty conscience. But if the money is his way of repaying his debt to society, then we will take it. All donations are gratefully received." Dame Vera Lynn said the Royal British Legion needed every penny they could get and people must put aside their feelings towards Tony Blair. "I think it's a good thing that he is doing this, especially now when our boys are coming home".
Mike Warburton, the senior tax partner of the accountants Grant Thornton said the donation implied that Mr Blair had paid off his three and a half million pound mortgage on his house in Connaught Square, Central London. "My understanding was that it was only on the promise of the memoirs he was going to write, that he got the mortgage. The bank would not have allowed him to donate the proceeds unless he had paid it off."
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