KINGSTON MP Sir Ed Davey has said he is worried that people are disrespecting the Queen by opposing the monarch's decision to give Tony Blair a senior knighthood.

It was announced that the former Prime Minister would be made a "Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter" in the Queen's New Year Honours.

But the decision was met with anger from some members of the public and a petition on Change.org to have the honour removed now has 750,000 signatures.

Sir Ed, the leader of the Liberal Democrat party, was asked by PA news yesterday for his stance on the matter "as a fellow knight of the realm."

He replied: "If the Queen wants to knight a politician or someone out of politics in any walk of life, I think we should respect Her Majesty.

"And I'm rather worried that people are being disrespectful to Her Majesty."

Appointments to the Garter are the Queen's personal choice and the government has no say in the matter.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesperson said: "Appointments to the Order of the Garter are a matter for Her Majesty the Queen, there is no involvement of the prime minister or government, so it wouldn't be one for me to comment on.

"I would point out every former prime minister before Tony Blair has received the Order of the Garter or Thistle."

Davey's comments came a day after Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer publicly supported Blair's senior knighthood.

Sir Keir told ITV programme Good Morning Britain "I think he deserves the honour," adding, "he won three elections, he was a very successful prime minister. I haven't got time to list this morning all his many achievements, which I think vastly improved our country."

He said he understood there are "strong views" on the Iraq war but said this did not detract from Blair's achievements as Prime Minister.

The petition opposing Blair's knighthood was set up by Norfolk-based voice artist and presenter Angus Scott. A statement on the Change.org petitionreads: "Tony Blair caused irreparable damage to both the constitution of the United Kingdom and to the very fabric of the nation's society. He was personally responsible for causing the death of countless innocent, civilian lives and servicemen in various conflicts." It was started by Scott five days ago and had 770,796 signatures at the time of writing.