Does Tony Blair deserve the medal?

Lindsey German

Convener of the Stop the War coalition

I think it's quite a fitting end to George Bush's presidency that he has invited his partner in crime to receive a medal.

I would rather see the two of them in handcuffs at the International Criminal Court.

George Bush said not finding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq was one of his regrets. What an understatement, after a war that has left one million Iraqis dead.

These people should be treated as pariahs, not fted as if they had played a part in Middle East peace.

Satire died the day Tony Blair was made Middle East peace envoy. The only person less suited for the job was George Bush.

We were told the war on terror would make us safer and would spread peace, but it has given us one of the top ten most corrupt governments in the world in Iraq, the war in Afghanistan is worsening and we have sown the seeds for extremism at home.

George Foulkes

Peer and Labour MSP

Tony Blair deserves this award for his work in Northern Ireland as well as for his international achievements.

I think it is because he was so instrumental in pushing the peace process that led to his appointment to the Middle East role.

We should be proud that a UK prime minister has received this degree of recognition. We tend to underplay our politicians' roles and ignore how really well-regarded they are around the world.

There is so much cynicism around politics in the UK. We have to remember that politicians play an important part in our society and our democracy.

Obviously it would be preferable to be issued a Freedom Medal by Barack Obama or Bill Clinton than by George Bush, but that is something that we can't control. George Bush can't be wrong all the time.

Verdict: Yes

Hugh Humphries

Secretary of Scottish Friends of Palestine

I HAVE grave reservations about (Tony Blair] being presented with anything.

There is no evidence Tony Blair has contributed anything to peace in the Middle East as the Quartet's peace envoy.

As our prime minister, Mr Blair was quite content to pander to the Arab states which have no democratic inclinations whatsoever – the states with the oilwells, such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. But when it comes to democratically elected governments, the Palestinian people have been shunned. Relatively free and fair democratic elections were held under EU supervision in 2006. Hamas was elected to power on this basis, but did Tony Blair and the EU and the rest of the West accept this? No. There have been no efforts to promote democracy at all in Palestine.

Verdict: No

Bob Wright

Father of para Mark Wright, killed in 2006 in Helmand, Afghanistan.

He might have lived if better equipment had been available.

Mark was awarded the George Cross for entering a minefield in an extraordinary attempt to save the lives of other injured soldiers. The people who should be getting the awards are the boys and girls out there doing the fighting, not Tony Blair.

The guy is a hypocrite for picking up this medal for

promoting peace abroad. He's supposed to be our Middle East envoy, but through the Gaza crisis nobody had heard anything from him until last week when he appeared on TV, talking a lot of nonsense.

Our soldiers are the ones risking their lives and giving up their lives, getting seriously injured. I know people you will never hear about on TV, the triple amputees whose lives are ruined and their parents' lives are ruined, because they have to look after them.

Verdict: No

Eric Joyce

Labour MP for Falkirk and former Black Watch major

TONY Blair was a strong leader here and is still active on the world stage. The United States is still our most important ally and it is an honour for his achievements to be recognised.

Tony Blair has a vital role as the Quartet's Middle East peace envoy. Another long-running issue is Afghanistan, where he tried to exercise his best judgment. In Iraq his actions were controversial, but he did the right thing given what we knew at the time.

Tony Blair was a bold leader and he was the UK premier at a time that changed world politics.

People will be cynical about the fact that George Bush presented the medal. What is important is that the American people have great respect and affection for Tony Blair. This should be seen as less an award from President Bush and more a recognition of achievement from the American people.

Verdict: No