The Trial
of Tony Blair
The "Trial
of Tony Blair" was a fringe event at the Labour Party Spring Conference
held in Manchester, UK on 12 March 2004--organised by the Stop the War Coaltion.
Tony Blair was staying at the plush Midland Hotel less than a hundred yards
from the hall where the trial took place. In between was a veritable army
of police, armed officers, Tactical Aid Group and Special Branch (the UK's
political police). Blair had of course been invited to the meeting to defend
himself, but, curiously, declined to attend.
The case
for the prosecution was presented by Chris Coverdale of Legal Action Against
War (LAAW), former MI5 whistleblower David Shayler (part one) and his partner
Annie Machon--also a former MI5 officer. Ghada Razuki of the Stop the War
Coalition also spoke.
They were
followed by 40 witnesses from the floor who were given 1 minute each to
speak.
The meeting
was presided over by a judge in full regalia including a superb wig. Two
grinning statues of Blair also adorned the platform.
The jury--the
people at the event--voted Blair gulity. The verdict was unanimous.
