Morning:
14°c
Ex-servicemen and members of the public will be allowed to give public evidence in the Iraq inquiry, a Cabinet minister suggested today.
Children's Secretary Ed Balls welcomed as a "good thing" moves to open up limited evidence sessions to the public. However, his words left the way clear for ex-ministers such as Tony Blair to give their evidence behind closed doors.
Downing Street says it is up to Sir John Chilcot, the inquiry chairman, to decide how much is held in public but has made clear the Prime Minister's view that sensitive evidence should be kept private.
A U-turn from Gordon Brown's original announcement of private hearings is expected before a vote on Wednesday.
Reader views (1)
Ex servicemen who put their lives on line will be able to speak in public but Tony Blair who only puts his dirty washing on the line will speak in private and even then behind the shoulders of his body guards who should be ashamed of themselves
- Peter Glazier, Sao Paulo, Brazil
