Blair subservient to worst presidency in history, says Jimmy Carter

12.58.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 21st May 2007

Former US president Jimmy Carter unleashed a torrent of criticism against George Bush and Tony Blair over the weekend, in which he accused the Bush presidency of being the "worst in history" and said Mr Blair's support had been abominable and subservient. Mr Carter said of the Bush years "I think as far as the adverse impact on the nation around the world, this administration has been the worst in history."

Speaking on BBC Radio 4, Mr Carter criticised Tony Blair for his close relations with George Bush, particularly concerning the Iraq war. "Abominable. Loyal, blind, apparently subservient," Mr Carter said when asked how he would characterise the British prime minister's relationship with Mr Bush. "I think that the almost undeviating support by Great Britain for the ill-advised policies of President Bush in Iraq have been a major tragedy for the world."

He told the BBC that if Mr Blair had opposed the invasion he could have made it tougher for Washington to shrug off critics. "One of the defences of the Bush administration in America and worldwide ... has been, 'OK, we must be more correct in our actions than the world thinks because Great Britain is backing us'."