More than two years have elapsed since Tony Blair was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for being a “staunch and steadfast ally”†of the United States in the war on terror, but Downing Street yesterday said the Prime Minister still does not know when he will pick it up.
This exceptional 772-day delay is beginning to raise eyebrows in Washington, where suspicions are growing that Mr Blair wishes to avoid being photographed receiving America’s highest civilian honour from President Bush.
That Dubya, even his friends don’t want to be seen with him.