Blair donates memoir profits to injured troops
Updated on 16 August 2010
The British Legion was today promised its biggest ever individual donation, but the father of a soldier killed in Iraq tells Channel 4 News he wishes that the donor had been somebody else.
Mr Blair, who is now a peace envoy for the Middle East, will give the money earned from 'A Journey' to the Royal British Legion's Battle Back Challenge Centre.
As prime minister, he had taken the controversial decisions to deploy British troops to Iraq and Afghanistan.
The man who refused to shake Tony Blair's hand at a memorial service last year has welcomed today's announcement of the former prime minister's decision donate the advance and profits from his new book to charity.
Peter Brierley, whose son Shaun lost his life in 2003 while fighting in the Iraq War, described the donation towards a £12m sports centre that treats injured soldiers, as "absolutely brilliant".
But the British Legion member admitted that he wished the donor had been someone else and said that he remained suspicious of the motovation's behind Mr Blair's donation. "You have to wonder why he did it," said Mr Brierley.
The £12m project will deliver state-of-the-art rehabilitation services for injured service members through a gym and training facility. It will also provide accommodation.
Mr Brierley insisted that the British Legion should not return the donation: "The British Legion have been good to me and I hope they build the gym so that people can benefit from this donation."
But he said that he would feel differently if the book's subject matter focused exclusively on the former prime minister’s role in the Iraq War.
A spokesman for the former prime minister confirmed the advance, reported to be £4.6m, will handed over to the charity, along with any royalties.
"Tony Blair decided on leaving office that he would donate the proceeds of his memoirs to a charity for the Armed Forces as a way of marking the enormous sacrifice they make for the security of our people and the world. The Royal British Legion is just such a cause," a spokesman said.
"In making this decision, Tony Blair recognises the courage and sacrifice the armed forces demonstrate day in, day out.
"As prime minister he witnessed that for himself in Iraq, Afghanistan, Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone and Kosovo. This is his way of honouring their courage and sacrifice.
"We have been consulting with a number of people and organisations to decide the best support he can give. There is one project consistently highlighted: The Royal British Legion's Battle Back Challenge Centre."
Mr Blair's book is due to be published on 1 September.
But anti-war campaigners said the decision showed the former prime minister had a "guilty conscience".
Lindsey German, convener of the Stop The War Coalition, said: "It would have been much better for everyone if he hadn't taken us into these wars in the first place. Blair lied about the Iraq war, he refused to express any regret at the Chilcot inquiry and his attempt to save his conscience will be little comfort to those injured or who have lost their loved ones."
But Lance Price, an adviser to Tony Blair from 1998 to 2001, told Channel 4 News that criticism of Mr Blair's decision was unfair. He said the former prime minister was right to donate the money to charity, although he admitted being surprised at the identity of the charity.
"I'm only surprised in the sense that it would invite criticism," he said. "It doesn't surprise me in the sense that while he was prime minister he was immensely appreciative of the armed forces and the sacrifices they made."
John Burton, Mr Blair's agent during his time as member for Sedgefield, hit out at critics of the former prime minister's decision.
"Obviously, he wants to do something for the soldiers," he said. "Every single death hurts someone like him."
Mr Burton described Mr Blair as "very generous with his time and money" and recalled how he had offered to help the Trimdon Labour Club before its closure was announced.
"When he found out that the club was in trouble, he called us to find out how he could help," he said.
The author John Kampfner told Channel 4 News that the decision could help boost sales of the book.
"Anecdotally there are people who have said 'I am interested in the book but I wouldn't want to give this guy the money,'" he said.
"Now they know they're not giving the guy the money, but giving it to a very worthy cause."
