Blair forced to call off book party

Published on Wednesday 8 September 2010 17:49

Tony Blair was forced to call off a party last night arranged to mark the launch of his new book, saying it would be "frightening" for his friends to have to walk past anti-war protesters.

Campaigners against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan had planned to demonstrate outside Tate Modern in London and criticised the gallery for allowing the party to be held there.

Mr Blair said: "It is sad in a way because you should have the right to sign books or see your friends if you want to. But it was going to cause so much hassle. The people at the party tonight are friends - and some of them are not political at all.

"I don't mind going through protesters - I have lived with that all my political life - but for other people it can be a bit unpleasant and frightening."

Lindsey German, convener of the Stop The War Coalition said: "Tony Blair is running scared of the peaceful, democratic protests which will follow him wherever he goes. A recent poll showed that close to 50 per cent of the British public believes that Mr Blair lied to parliament and the country to take Britain into an illegal war.

"The anti-war movement is determined that one day he will be brought to account for his war crimes in Iraq.