As the Iraq inquiry under Sir John Chilcot gets into its stride, some interesting things are coming to light. The inquiry, of course, is intended as a whitewash, and what’s more set to report next year after the latest date for an election. But the knives are out for Blair.
The article by ex-Director of Public Prosecutions Ken Macdonald in The Times on 14 December might be a harbinger of things to come. Blair’s fundamental flaw was his “sycophancy towards power”, says Macdonald, leading to “warriors thrust carelessly into death’s way by a Prime Minister lost in self-aggrandisement”. More may come out, or not. In any case, the people know the truth: Blair lied, and Labour MPs knew he lied even as they trooped faithfully into the lobbies to vote for war.
Sycophancy towards parliamentary power is not a fault unique to Blair. It characterises the modern Labour Party, and its supporters in the TUC and the unions. Blair was their creature. Turning on him now won’t save them, nor should it.