Iraq decision 'was 51-49' - Cherie

The former Prime Minister's wife made the controversial comments during an appearance at the Cheltenham Literary Festival.

They came just a day after Tony Blair was berated for having "blood on his hands" by a father who lost his son at the start of the military campaign.

Mrs Blair reportedly told the audience that Mr Blair had been far from sure he should authorise British participation in the war in 2003.

But the ex-premier was adept at seeming certain of a decision, even when he knew the arguments were finely balanced, she said.

"A lot of the time these choices are not clear cut," Mrs Blair said.

"They are not black and white. Instead of being 80-20, many of them are actually more like 51-49.

"When taking those decisions, Tony is able to step back, absorb all the information and then choose.

"He is also very good at then convincing everybody else that it was a 70-30 decision all along.

"I think it [the Iraq war] was one of those 51-49 questions."