Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

undeterred

(34,658 posts)
Sat Nov 29, 2014, 10:01 AM Nov 2014

David Cameron Rips Into Tony Blair Over His Save The Children Award



“Should Tony Blair get a global legacy award from Save the Children for taking us to war unnecessarily in Iraq?” asked Cameron at Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons Thursday. Blair was handed the award for his successful efforts to get G-8 nations to pledge $40 billion to the Make Poverty History campaign.

The petition to revoke the award has already received 10,000 signatures along with a letter from 500 dissatisfied employees of the charity. An internal letter called the award to Blair "morally reprehensible" and said it “endangers our credibility globally.”

“We consider this award inappropriate and a betrayal to Save the Children's founding principles and values. Management staff in the region were not communicated with, nor consulted about the award and were caught by surprise with this decision,” the letter protest said.

After Cameron's outburst in Parliament on Thursday, further questions were being asked about the political independence of the charity following revelations that former Prime Ministers Blair and Gordon Brown have personal links to its leadership. The group's U.K. chief executive, Justin Forsythe, was formerly a special adviser to Blair.

http://www.ibtimes.com/david-cameron-rips-tony-blair-over-his-save-children-award-1730666?ft=3aj78&utm_medium=Nov_29_2014_0401_198230&utm_source=TailoredMail&utm_term=%20Tony+Blair+Mocked+For+Getting+Charity+Award&utm_campaign=Nov_29_2014_0401



Britain's smirking chimp
6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
David Cameron Rips Into Tony Blair Over His Save The Children Award (Original Post) undeterred Nov 2014 OP
The War in Iraq killed children... Mike Nelson Nov 2014 #1
that charity just hurt its brand immeasurably samsingh Nov 2014 #2
I'd be a little more impressed with Cameron's argument there Ken Burch Nov 2014 #3
Turns out Cameron didn't mention Iraq at all - see clip in #5 muriel_volestrangler Nov 2014 #6
Cameron voted yes on going to war in Iraq Spider Jerusalem Nov 2014 #4
Poor reporting - that was a question asked to Cameron, not what he said muriel_volestrangler Nov 2014 #5
 

Ken Burch

(50,254 posts)
3. I'd be a little more impressed with Cameron's argument there
Sat Nov 29, 2014, 10:11 AM
Nov 2014

If it wasn't for the fact that HIS party gave unquestioning parliamentary backing to Blair on that war...sometimes saving Blair from defeat in the Commons when most of the Labour MPs voted against the war at certain times.

 

Spider Jerusalem

(21,786 posts)
4. Cameron voted yes on going to war in Iraq
Sat Nov 29, 2014, 10:25 AM
Nov 2014

and Blair won that vote in the Commons because of Tory support; there were a large number of Labour MPs who voted "no".

muriel_volestrangler

(101,349 posts)
5. Poor reporting - that was a question asked to Cameron, not what he said
Sat Nov 29, 2014, 10:32 AM
Nov 2014

and it was Wednesday.

The row also reached the House of Commons when the Conservative backbencher Andrew Turner questioned whether Blair “should get a global legacy award from Save The Children for taking us to war unnecessarily in Iraq”.

Cameron said it was not for him to get involved but that it was “remarkable” it was given to Blair by a former staffer of his arch political rival Gordon Brown.

“Obviously the person who gave the award knows about peacemaking and peacekeeping,” he said.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/nov/26/david-cameron-mocks-tony-blair-save-the-children-award

so the 'revelations' that article talks about were already being talked about before Wednesday, because they have always been public knowledge. And it's 'Forsyth' without an 'e'.

What Cameron actually said about the award was "it's not for me to get involved". From 32:40 here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b04t106h/prime-ministers-questions-26112014

Better reporting (ie without the involvement of the incompetent International Business Times) here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025875602
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»David Cameron Rips Into T...