The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

RSS

Desmond Tutu refuses to share a platform with Tony Blair

The Archbishop withdraws from event, citing Blair's support for the war in Iraq as "morally indefensible".

By Caroline Crampton Published 28 August 2012 15:21

Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Photograph: Getty Images

Special Offer: Get 12 issues of New Statesman magazine for just £12

Tags: South Africa Tony Blair Desmond Tutu

More from Caroline Crampton

View the discussion thread.

60 comments

Tue, 2012-08-28 20:50 — Keir

Time was when Labour Party members, before Blair was an MP, protested against the supply of arms to Saddam by the West, arms used for executing what are now called crimes.

Not that anyone listened.

Tue, 2012-08-28 21:58 — jankaas (not verified)

people listened, they just didn't care. it all seemed very far
away, and very foreign to most in the West.

Tue, 2012-08-28 18:14 — hugh markey (not verified)

If your live in the West, or any of its enclaves, it's difficult to disassociate oneself from Western politicians and their actions - no matter how dire.
After all the benefits accruing to Western nations arise from both past inequities and from contemporary power play in every part of the globe.
Just look at the behaviour of South African police authorities to labour demands. This was foreseeable twenty-five years ago when the ANC made a pact with the West.
Had Tony Blair refrained from joining George Bush and his Rough Riders in the Iraq caper, Cameron and the Tories would have indulged in the most jingoistic hysteria imaginable.
Blair is mainly decried as a dastardly villain because the invasion failed on all fronts, politically, militarily and humanely.
Nobody likes a loser - our recollection may be a little dull but Atlee joined the USA in
holding Korea yet the Tories and Warring Winnie were quite willing to scuttle and leave Korea divided. Yet, the Tories had been unbelievably warlike in opposition which was so unlike their behaviour in 1940 when Mr Hitler was riding roughshod over Europe. Appeasement - was writ very large indeed in 1939/40.
The Labour Government and the Tory Opposition should take the blame, And the Silent Majority in the UK. Not the LibDems and the Demonstators who spoke out at the time.

Scapegoat

Tue, 2012-08-28 17:56 — Randon Fact Sharer (not verified)

I think its fantastic that Tutu is standing up for what is right by refusing a platform with Tony Blair over his stance on Iraq, but I also wonder if there is any significance in the fact that 5 African presidents have 'died' within the past 10 months...And is it a coincidence that Tony Blair has been doing a lot of work in Africa, creating a new colony! Its not about saving Africans either! Its about greed!
President Muammar Gaddafi, Libya, Oct 2011
President Malam Bacai, Guinea-Bissau, Jan 2012
President Bingu wa Mutharika, Malawi, April 2012
President John Atta Mills, Ghana, July 2012
President Meles Zenavi, Ethiopia, August 2012