THE government was forced to defend former prime minister Tony Blair today in response to the petition to have his knighthood removed, which topped a million signatures on Friday.

Cabinet Minister Michael Gove called the ex Labour leader an “outstanding statesman and performer.”

Mr Blair was appointed by the Queen a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, the oldest and most senior British order of chivalry, in the new year’s honours list.

But the change.org petition says Mr Blair has caused “irreparable damage to both the constitution of the United Kingdom and to the very fabric of the nation’s society” and that he is the “least deserving person of any public honour.

“He was personally responsible for causing the death of countless innocent civilian lives and servicemen in various conflicts,” the petition says. “For this alone, he should be held accountable for war crimes.”

But Mr Gove said that the former PM “has served and continues to serve this country.”

He told Sky News: “If I look back at Tony Blair’s record, while there are aspects of it with which I can disagree, I think any fair-minded person would say that he was an outstanding statesman and performer, and, as a prime minister who put public service first, this recognition from Her Majesty is entirely appropriate.”

Both Prime Minister Boris Johnson and current Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer previously said Mr Blair had earned his knighthood, with Sir Keir arguing he “made Britain a better country.”

The Stop the War Coalition announced yesterday that it will protest against the honour at the annual Garter Day procession on June 13, when Mr Blair will be handed the title.

It is calling for as many people as possible to join the protest and show solidarity with the millions whose lives were destroyed as a result of the illegal war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Stop the War convener Lindsey German said: “We will protest at this grotesque award in the name of the Iraqis, the Afghans, the families who lost soldiers, the refugees and victims of these and subsequent wars. Blair has blood on his hands.”

Reg Keys and Peter Brierley, fathers of British servicemen killed in the Iraq War, will be joining the protest.