Tony Blair is said to be considering a knighthood for former US president Bill Clinton. While bestowing the title on ex-presidents has become something of a custom – both Presidents Ronald Reagan and George HW Bush were honoured after leaving the White House – insiders say the British Prime Minister is concerned that knighting Clinton may strain relations between the current White House administration and the UK government.
Clinton is scheduled to depart on Monday for a 13-day European tour including stops in Sweden, Austria, Spain and Britain. One Labour insider said it would be “utterly amazing and inconceivable for Clinton to be snubbed” by not being awarded a knighthood, adding: “This visit would be the ideal opportunity.”
The former president and Tony Blair are said to have been in close contact since Clinton left office in January. “Clinton casually makes the call and they chat about all sorts of things,” says one Democratic party source. “They are still… buddies and everyone in the Labour Party was devastated when Bush beat Al Gore.”
Though President Bush has spoken with Blair only five times since taking office, his team assures that the relationship between the two leaders remains cordial. “They get on because their two countries have mutual interests,” said one Bush aide. “It’s no more or less than that.”
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
