Iraq

Blair's spokesman plays down Iraq Inquiry claims

Tony Blair's spokesman has played down claims that the former Prime Minister will be highly criticised in the findings of the Iraq inquiry.

The Mail on Sunday is claiming the inquiry will round on Mr Blair for telling Parliament that intelligence suggesting Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction was "beyond doubt".

The Chilcot Inquiry will also criticise Mr Blair for failing to admit to a "secret pledge" with former US president George Bush, made when the pair met at a Texas ranch in 2002, that he would go to war, the newspaper claimed.

There is also speculation that Mr Blair will also come under fire for operating a "sofa government" - a small core of key allies that confer away from formal meetings - so cabinet ministers were unaware of vital information.

A spokesman for Mr Blair said: "This is a deliberate attempt to pre-judge a report that hasn't even been written yet. We're not going comment until it has been published."

Officials are currently writing the report and all witnesses will be given the chance to respond to any inaccuracies.

Mr Blair led the country to war eight years ago and his successor, Gordon Brown, set up the Chilcot Inquiry after criticism of previous probes.

Mr Blair mounted a vigorous defence of the 2003 invasion of Iraq when he appeared before the inquiry for the first time, insisting he had no regrets over removing Saddam and would do the same again.

In his memoirs, A Journey, he said he was angry at the way he was asked whether he had any regrets about going to war.

He wrote that the Chilcot Inquiry was supposed to be about learning lessons but had "inevitably turned into a trial of judgment and even good faith".

A spokeswoman for the Chilcot Inquiry said: "We will not provide a running commentary on the inquiry.

"The Iraq Inquiry would not comment on what, if any criticism, may be in the report."

Picture: Crown copyright