When Tony Blair was first elected Leader of the Labour Party I had the dubious pleasure of photographing him on a number of occasions. Following the publication of the Chilcot report I am now happy to resurrect these images and put them to good use!

In the words of Kate Hudson of CND “The Iraq war was a disaster, a disaster that began with a lie. If Tony Blair and other politicians responsible had told the truth it would never have happened. A country was destroyed, millions of innocent Iraqis were killed, British soldiers were killed, and terrorism has spread across the Middle East. Those responsible must now be brought to justice.”

Tony Blair

Sir John Chilcot said the 2003 invasion was not the “last resort” action presented to MPs and the public. There was no “imminent threat” from Saddam – and the intelligence case was “not justified”, he said.

Tony Blair

Tony Blair overstated the threat posed by Saddam Hussein, sent ill-prepared troops into battle and had “wholly inadequate” plans for the aftermath, the UK’s Iraq War inquiry has said.

Tony Blair

The 2003 Iraq invasion was “an act of military aggression” and a “catastrophe”, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said. Responding to the publication of Sir John Chilcot’s inquiry into the war, Mr Corbyn said MPs had been “misled” in the run-up to the invasion. He also apologised on behalf of Labour and called for more powers for the International Criminal Court.

Tony Blair

Chilcot confirms Tony Blair must now be brought to justice

CND, Stop the War and many others gathered in Westminster listening to the revelations of the Chilcot report.

Kate Hudson, CND general secretary, said: “The report shows that Tony Blair had no respect for cabinet procedure, no respect for Parliament, and no respect for international law. A country was destroyed, millions of innocent Iraqis were killed, British soldiers were killed, and terrorism has spread across the Middle East. Chilcot reveals the evidence that must now be used to bring Tony Blair to justice. This is our demand. Only when justice is served can we prevent disasters like the Iraq war ever happening again.”

Tony Blair

Memos sent by former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair to then US President George W Bush in the run-up to the Iraq War shine a light on the extent of the relationship between the two leaders. The memos sent between 2001 and 2007 were released alongside Sir John Chilcot’s report of his inquiry into the Iraq War. Mr Bush’s replies were not included in the report.

In one memo to George Bush Blair says “I will be with you, whatever… ”

Tony Blair (photomontage)

Speaking in response to Chilcott Jeremy Corbyn said “There are many lessons that need to be drawn from the Iraq war and the investigation carried out by the Chilcot Inquiry for our country, government and parliament as well as for my party.

They include the need for a more open and independent relationship with the United States particularly as we face the prospects of a new and potentially more hawkish presidency and for a foreign policy based on upholding international law and the authority of the United Nations which seeks peaceful solutions to international disputes.

We also need much stronger oversight of the security and intelligence services full restoration of proper cabinet government and to give parliament the decisive say over any future decision to go to war based on objective information not through government discretion but through a War Powers Act.

Finally, we need Britain to join the 30 countries including Germany and Spain that already support giving the International Criminal Court the power to prosecute those responsible for the crime of military aggression.”

Police arrest Tony Blair outside Parliament (photomontage)

Below you can watch the Anti-War film I co-directed with Hazuan Hashim: ‘Not In Our Name’. Starring Tony Benn & artists against the war. It seems as relevant now as when it was made in 2008.

Not In Our Name – 60 min – 2008 from Hazuan Hashim and Phil Maxwell on Vimeo.