Gordon Brown escapes Iraq inquiry grilling until after poll

The Prime Minister will appear before the Iraq Inquiry after the next general election
12 April 2012

The Prime Minister's grilling by the Iraq War inquiry was today dramatically postponed until after next year's general election.

The decision was taken to protect Gordon Brown from being criticised by David Cameron and Nick Clegg over anything he might tell the inquiry in the run-up to polling day.

Two other senior Cabinet ministers — Foreign Secretary David Miliband and International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander — are also being spared cross-examination until after voting is over.

But Tony Blair, Alastair Campbell and senior figures who have all left their jobs will be called during January and early February, it was announced.

Sir John Chilcott's inquiry team confirmed that the Prime Minister will be summoned for public questioning about his role in the preparations for the 2003 invasion and its aftermath. Mr Brown stayed out of the spotlight for most of the build-up but is said to have strongly backed Mr Blair's decision at an eve-of-invasion Cabinet meeting.

In a statement, Sir John's spokesman said: "The committee believes that only after the general election can these ministers give their evidence fully without the hearings being used as a platform for political advantage."

For the same reason, the committee will suspend its hearings from February until after the election is over.

During January it will take evidence from Mr Blair, by far the most important witness. His former press secretary Mr Campbell will also be questioned on his involvement in the dossier claiming wrongly that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, as well as his knowledge of talks between No 10 and the administration of President George W Bush.

Three former defence secretaries, John Hutton, Geoff Hoon and Des Browne, will be called with former foreign secretaries Margaret Beckett and Jack Straw. Lord Goldsmith, the former attorney general, is expected to confirm that he warned a war would be illegal.

The Chilcott inquiry is examining Iraq policy from 2001 to the withdrawal of British forces this year. Sir John's spokesman said he had come under no pressure from No 10 to postpone Mr Brown's evidence.

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