Blair Inquiry Protest

Demonstrators surrounded the QEII conference centre in London throughout the day while Tony Blair was at the Chilcot enquiry into the Iraq War and heard the views of families of those killed in the war. London, 29/01/2010

It was a long day for Tony Blair, who left home early in the morning to avoid press and protesters, entering the QEII centre by a side entrance. Stop the War and other groups had organised a daylong protest, starting at 8 am. When I arrived late morning there were several hundred people outside the centre, shouting for Blair to be arrested and tried for war crimes.

It was a damp and freezing day, and many of those who came to protest stayed only for an hour or two, but others took their place through the day, and by the time Blair was due to leave there were crowds around the various exits, held back by large numbers of police.

There were various speeches and other performances during the day, but it was the lunchtime appearance of some members of the military families that provided the most dramatic moments. They had been inside the inquiry listening to Blair and were appalled at both his evidence and the lack of critical questioning from the inquiry members. Theresea Evans, proudly wearing her late son's medals, spoke of Blair's complete failure to make any apology for the effects of his decision, and her disgust at his smirking while giving evidence.

Maxine Gentle who was 14 when her brother Gordon was killed in Iraq in 2004 read the letter she wrote then to Blair, and her words then remain a moving expression of what many military families feel:
"My feelings are that I think you are rubbish at your job. You don't care about the British public, armed forces or anyone.

My big brother died at the age of 18, and what for? A war over oil and money. I think that you should withdraw all of our soldiers from Iraq. After all, it's not our war, it's America's.

We are all hurting badly, but I don't just blame Gordon's death on the Iraqis that made the roadside bomb. I blame YOU as well, because it is your fault that our soldiers are over there in the first place."

The families had hoped for some expression of real regret from Blair but instead got a great deal of self-justification and the feeling he had learnt no lessons but would be happy to make a similar tragic mistake over Iran were he still in power.

At 5pm, when Blair was thought to be about to leave, the samba band led a group of demonstrators on a short march into Parliament Square and around to the road at the back of the centre, blocking it for a short time before they were cleared by a large number of police. An hour later, there were still large groups of protesters and press at all exits waiting for him to emerge. It appears that he was smuggled out by some unknown exit, perhaps through a neighbouring building or one of the underground tunnels in the area to avoid them.

Demonstrators surrounded the QEII conference centre in London throughout the day while Tony Blair was at the Chilcot enquiry into the Iraq War and heard the views of families of those killed in the war. London, 29/01/2010

It was a long day for Tony Blair, who left home early in the morning to avoid press and protesters, entering the QEII centre by a side entrance. Stop the War and other groups had organised a daylong protest, starting at 8 am. When I arrived late morning there were several hundred people outside the centre, shouting for Blair to be arrested and tried for war crimes.

It was a damp and freezing day, and many of those who came to protest stayed only for an hour or two, but others took their place through the day, and by the time Blair was due to leave there were crowds around the various exits, held back by large numbers of police.

There were various speeches and other performances during the day, but it was the lunchtime appearance of some members of the military families that provided the most dramatic moments. They had been inside the inquiry listening to Blair and were appalled at both his evidence and the lack of critical questioning from the inquiry members. Theresea Evans, proudly wearing her late son's medals, spoke of Blair's complete failure to make any apology for the effects of his decision, and her disgust at his smirking while giving evidence.

Maxine Gentle who was 14 when her brother Gordon was killed in Iraq in 2004 read the letter she wrote then to Blair, and her words then remain a moving expression of what many military families feel:
"My feelings are that I think you are rubbish at your job. You don't care about the British public, armed forces or anyone.

My big brother died at the age of 18, and what for? A war over oil and money. I think that you should withdraw all of our soldiers from Iraq. After all, it's not our war, it's America's.

We are all hurting badly, but I don't just blame Gordon's death on the Iraqis that made the roadside bomb. I blame YOU as well, because it is your fault that our soldiers are over there in the first place."

The families had hoped for some expression of real regret from Blair but instead got a great deal of self-justification and the feeling he had learnt no lessons but would be happy to make a similar tragic mistake over Iran were he still in power.

At 5pm, when Blair was thought to be about to leave, the samba band led a group of demonstrators on a short march into Parliament Square and around to the road at the back of the centre, blocking it for a short time before they were cleared by a large number of police. An hour later, there were still large groups of protesters and press at all exits waiting for him to emerge. It appears that he was smuggled out by some unknown exit, perhaps through a neighbouring building or one of the underground tunnels in the area to avoid them.

Demonstrators surrounded the QEII conference centre in London throughout the day while Tony Blair was at the Chilcot enquiry into the Iraq War and heard the views of families of those killed in the war. London, 29/01/2010

It was a long day for Tony Blair, who left home early in the morning to avoid press and protesters, entering the QEII centre by a side entrance. Stop the War and other groups had organised a daylong protest, starting at 8 am. When I arrived late morning there were several hundred people outside the centre, shouting for Blair to be arrested and tried for war crimes.

It was a damp and freezing day, and many of those who came to protest stayed only for an hour or two, but others took their place through the day, and by the time Blair was due to leave there were crowds around the various exits, held back by large numbers of police.

There were various speeches and other performances during the day, but it was the lunchtime appearance of some members of the military families that provided the most dramatic moments. They had been inside the inquiry listening to Blair and were appalled at both his evidence and the lack of critical questioning from the inquiry members. Theresea Evans, proudly wearing her late son's medals, spoke of Blair's complete failure to make any apology for the effects of his decision, and her disgust at his smirking while giving evidence.

Maxine Gentle who was 14 when her brother Gordon was killed in Iraq in 2004 read the letter she wrote then to Blair, and her words then remain a moving expression of what many military families feel:
"My feelings are that I think you are rubbish at your job. You don't care about the British public, armed forces or anyone.

My big brother died at the age of 18, and what for? A war over oil and money. I think that you should withdraw all of our soldiers from Iraq. After all, it's not our war, it's America's.

We are all hurting badly, but I don't just blame Gordon's death on the Iraqis that made the roadside bomb. I blame YOU as well, because it is your fault that our soldiers are over there in the first place."

The families had hoped for some expression of real regret from Blair but instead got a great deal of self-justification and the feeling he had learnt no lessons but would be happy to make a similar tragic mistake over Iran were he still in power.

At 5pm, when Blair was thought to be about to leave, the samba band led a group of demonstrators on a short march into Parliament Square and around to the road at the back of the centre, blocking it for a short time before they were cleared by a large number of police. An hour later, there were still large groups of protesters and press at all exits waiting for him to emerge. It appears that he was smuggled out by some unknown exit, perhaps through a neighbouring building or one of the underground tunnels in the area to avoid them.

Demonstrators surrounded the QEII conference centre in London throughout the day while Tony Blair was at the Chilcot enquiry into the Iraq War and heard the views of families of those killed in the war. London, 29/01/2010

It was a long day for Tony Blair, who left home early in the morning to avoid press and protesters, entering the QEII centre by a side entrance. Stop the War and other groups had organised a daylong protest, starting at 8 am. When I arrived late morning there were several hundred people outside the centre, shouting for Blair to be arrested and tried for war crimes.

It was a damp and freezing day, and many of those who came to protest stayed only for an hour or two, but others took their place through the day, and by the time Blair was due to leave there were crowds around the various exits, held back by large numbers of police.

There were various speeches and other performances during the day, but it was the lunchtime appearance of some members of the military families that provided the most dramatic moments. They had been inside the inquiry listening to Blair and were appalled at both his evidence and the lack of critical questioning from the inquiry members. Theresea Evans, proudly wearing her late son's medals, spoke of Blair's complete failure to make any apology for the effects of his decision, and her disgust at his smirking while giving evidence.

Maxine Gentle who was 14 when her brother Gordon was killed in Iraq in 2004 read the letter she wrote then to Blair, and her words then remain a moving expression of what many military families feel:
"My feelings are that I think you are rubbish at your job. You don't care about the British public, armed forces or anyone.

My big brother died at the age of 18, and what for? A war over oil and money. I think that you should withdraw all of our soldiers from Iraq. After all, it's not our war, it's America's.

We are all hurting badly, but I don't just blame Gordon's death on the Iraqis that made the roadside bomb. I blame YOU as well, because it is your fault that our soldiers are over there in the first place."

The families had hoped for some expression of real regret from Blair but instead got a great deal of self-justification and the feeling he had learnt no lessons but would be happy to make a similar tragic mistake over Iran were he still in power.

At 5pm, when Blair was thought to be about to leave, the samba band led a group of demonstrators on a short march into Parliament Square and around to the road at the back of the centre, blocking it for a short time before they were cleared by a large number of police. An hour later, there were still large groups of protesters and press at all exits waiting for him to emerge. It appears that he was smuggled out by some unknown exit, perhaps through a neighbouring building or one of the underground tunnels in the area to avoid them.

Demonstrators surrounded the QEII conference centre in London throughout the day while Tony Blair was at the Chilcot enquiry into the Iraq War and heard the views of families of those killed in the war. London, 29/01/2010

It was a long day for Tony Blair, who left home early in the morning to avoid press and protesters, entering the QEII centre by a side entrance. Stop the War and other groups had organised a daylong protest, starting at 8 am. When I arrived late morning there were several hundred people outside the centre, shouting for Blair to be arrested and tried for war crimes.

It was a damp and freezing day, and many of those who came to protest stayed only for an hour or two, but others took their place through the day, and by the time Blair was due to leave there were crowds around the various exits, held back by large numbers of police.

There were various speeches and other performances during the day, but it was the lunchtime appearance of some members of the military families that provided the most dramatic moments. They had been inside the inquiry listening to Blair and were appalled at both his evidence and the lack of critical questioning from the inquiry members. Theresea Evans, proudly wearing her late son's medals, spoke of Blair's complete failure to make any apology for the effects of his decision, and her disgust at his smirking while giving evidence.

Maxine Gentle who was 14 when her brother Gordon was killed in Iraq in 2004 read the letter she wrote then to Blair, and her words then remain a moving expression of what many military families feel:
"My feelings are that I think you are rubbish at your job. You don't care about the British public, armed forces or anyone.

My big brother died at the age of 18, and what for? A war over oil and money. I think that you should withdraw all of our soldiers from Iraq. After all, it's not our war, it's America's.

We are all hurting badly, but I don't just blame Gordon's death on the Iraqis that made the roadside bomb. I blame YOU as well, because it is your fault that our soldiers are over there in the first place."

The families had hoped for some expression of real regret from Blair but instead got a great deal of self-justification and the feeling he had learnt no lessons but would be happy to make a similar tragic mistake over Iran were he still in power.

At 5pm, when Blair was thought to be about to leave, the samba band led a group of demonstrators on a short march into Parliament Square and around to the road at the back of the centre, blocking it for a short time before they were cleared by a large number of police. An hour later, there were still large groups of protesters and press at all exits waiting for him to emerge. It appears that he was smuggled out by some unknown exit, perhaps through a neighbouring building or one of the underground tunnels in the area to avoid them.

Demonstrators surrounded the QEII conference centre in London throughout the day while Tony Blair was at the Chilcot enquiry into the Iraq War and heard the views of families of those killed in the war. London, 29/01/2010

It was a long day for Tony Blair, who left home early in the morning to avoid press and protesters, entering the QEII centre by a side entrance. Stop the War and other groups had organised a daylong protest, starting at 8 am. When I arrived late morning there were several hundred people outside the centre, shouting for Blair to be arrested and tried for war crimes.

It was a damp and freezing day, and many of those who came to protest stayed only for an hour or two, but others took their place through the day, and by the time Blair was due to leave there were crowds around the various exits, held back by large numbers of police.

There were various speeches and other performances during the day, but it was the lunchtime appearance of some members of the military families that provided the most dramatic moments. They had been inside the inquiry listening to Blair and were appalled at both his evidence and the lack of critical questioning from the inquiry members. Theresea Evans, proudly wearing her late son's medals, spoke of Blair's complete failure to make any apology for the effects of his decision, and her disgust at his smirking while giving evidence.

Maxine Gentle who was 14 when her brother Gordon was killed in Iraq in 2004 read the letter she wrote then to Blair, and her words then remain a moving expression of what many military families feel:
"My feelings are that I think you are rubbish at your job. You don't care about the British public, armed forces or anyone.

My big brother died at the age of 18, and what for? A war over oil and money. I think that you should withdraw all of our soldiers from Iraq. After all, it's not our war, it's America's.

We are all hurting badly, but I don't just blame Gordon's death on the Iraqis that made the roadside bomb. I blame YOU as well, because it is your fault that our soldiers are over there in the first place."

The families had hoped for some expression of real regret from Blair but instead got a great deal of self-justification and the feeling he had learnt no lessons but would be happy to make a similar tragic mistake over Iran were he still in power.

At 5pm, when Blair was thought to be about to leave, the samba band led a group of demonstrators on a short march into Parliament Square and around to the road at the back of the centre, blocking it for a short time before they were cleared by a large number of police. An hour later, there were still large groups of protesters and press at all exits waiting for him to emerge. It appears that he was smuggled out by some unknown exit, perhaps through a neighbouring building or one of the underground tunnels in the area to avoid them.

Demonstrators surrounded the QEII conference centre in London throughout the day while Tony Blair was at the Chilcot enquiry into the Iraq War and heard the views of families of those killed in the war. London, 29/01/2010

It was a long day for Tony Blair, who left home early in the morning to avoid press and protesters, entering the QEII centre by a side entrance. Stop the War and other groups had organised a daylong protest, starting at 8 am. When I arrived late morning there were several hundred people outside the centre, shouting for Blair to be arrested and tried for war crimes.

It was a damp and freezing day, and many of those who came to protest stayed only for an hour or two, but others took their place through the day, and by the time Blair was due to leave there were crowds around the various exits, held back by large numbers of police.

There were various speeches and other performances during the day, but it was the lunchtime appearance of some members of the military families that provided the most dramatic moments. They had been inside the inquiry listening to Blair and were appalled at both his evidence and the lack of critical questioning from the inquiry members. Theresea Evans, proudly wearing her late son's medals, spoke of Blair's complete failure to make any apology for the effects of his decision, and her disgust at his smirking while giving evidence.

Maxine Gentle who was 14 when her brother Gordon was killed in Iraq in 2004 read the letter she wrote then to Blair, and her words then remain a moving expression of what many military families feel:
"My feelings are that I think you are rubbish at your job. You don't care about the British public, armed forces or anyone.

My big brother died at the age of 18, and what for? A war over oil and money. I think that you should withdraw all of our soldiers from Iraq. After all, it's not our war, it's America's.

We are all hurting badly, but I don't just blame Gordon's death on the Iraqis that made the roadside bomb. I blame YOU as well, because it is your fault that our soldiers are over there in the first place."

The families had hoped for some expression of real regret from Blair but instead got a great deal of self-justification and the feeling he had learnt no lessons but would be happy to make a similar tragic mistake over Iran were he still in power.

At 5pm, when Blair was thought to be about to leave, the samba band led a group of demonstrators on a short march into Parliament Square and around to the road at the back of the centre, blocking it for a short time before they were cleared by a large number of police. An hour later, there were still large groups of protesters and press at all exits waiting for him to emerge. It appears that he was smuggled out by some unknown exit, perhaps through a neighbouring building or one of the underground tunnels in the area to avoid them.