David Shayler speaks at the Trial of 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 Coalition.

Tony Blair was staying at the plush Midland Hotel in central Manchester less than a hundred yards from the hall where the trial took place. In between was a veritable army of police, armed officers from the Tactical Aid Group (TAG), and the 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 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.

Broadband clips of the Trial of Tony Blair