The Blair and Broon Governments made light work of any of the smaller advantages within Crab’s list (many of which were unaffordable in the longer term and have also now gone). The biggest mistakes were:
1. Iraq and GW2 - lies and deception. Instability in the Middle East and more radicalisation.
2. Afghanistan “British troops will leave without firing a single shot” - lies and deception. More instability and more radicalisation.
3. The freedom of movement decision in May 04, the EU welcomed 10 new member states – the majority from Central and Eastern Europe – in what was the largest expansion in the history of European integration. The UK was one of only 3 member states, with Sweden and Ireland, to open its labour market to these new EU citizens immediately. The dissatisfaction this brought is the major reason why Brexit occurred (although other reasons did similar) some 14 years later when the effects of that poor decision was realised by many British people.
4. Not “making hay when the sun shines” when the economy was booming. When it went bust in 2007 then they had squandered everything leading us to SDSR10 which was probably the worst Defence Review in a generation. Plus also saw other public sector organisations suffer - the NHS were proper whammed as were the Police.
5. New Labour and China. They obviously handed back Hong Kong, but that was set up by the previous Tories. But what it did was put New Labour into an ‘engagement’ strategy with China. They also supported China’s entrance into the WTO in 2001 through that strategy. We are now reaping the significant issues of a growing China thanks to that poor strategy. China overtook the British economy in 2005, passed Germany in 2006 and past Japan into second place in 2010. That Chinese accession is a significant issue.
So, no, Bliar does not deserve a Knighthood in my opinion as he has arguably made the UK and the wider world a far worse place for many humans to live. It has also seen the West and NATO grow weaker in the past 20 years and led us to the situation we are now in with China and Russia. Surely a Knighthood for a Prime Minister should be awarded on good results rather than attendance???