Tony Blair wins Philadelphia’s Liberty Award

Former British Prime Minister will accept the award in September. Bill Clinton will present the award to former colleague.

Tony Blair will be in Philadelphia in September to accept the Liberty Award at the Constitution Center. The award honors the former British Prime Minister for his diplomatic work since stepping down from that office.

Former president Bill Clinton will present the award to Tony Blair at an open-air ceremony on Independence Mall in September. The two men were world leaders at the same time. While in office, Tony Blair caught criticism for the way he involved Britain in the Iraq war.

The award will honor Blair for creating the peaceful Good Friday Accord in Northern Ireland, and striving for a two-state solution to east tension between Israel and the Palestinians after he stepped down from office. Mayor Nutter, who once shared a cheesesteak with Blair at the Four Seasons in Philadelphia, admires him for being relentless.

In terms of what he did as Prime Minsister – that’s for the British public to deal with, but as an American – he established a new level of relationship between United States and Great Britain. He utilizied all his talent and capacity on the international scene to bring our two coutnries together. Now, trying to deal with the Middle East…it’s like, who else but Tony Blair? He will keep at it and keep at it.

The award ceremony is scheduled for September 13th, with entertainment to be determined. Tickets will be free, on a first-come-first-serve basis. I’m Peter Crimmins, WHYY news.