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Tony Blair and Gordon Brown will be grilled on live television by the official inquiry into the Iraq war, it was revealed today.
The former prime minister, who with George Bush ordered the 2003 invasion to topple Saddam Hussein, will be the key witness, said chairman Sir John Chilcot as he launched the inquiry.
He also made it clear that Mr Brown will be called, saying the five-strong panel would question all “key decision-makers in the different phases of the Iraq affair”.
However, shadow foreign secretary William Hague said there was still too much “wriggle room” to allow Mr Blair and others to try to avoid giving all evidence in public.
In a surprise move, Sir John said he would welcome evidence from whistleblowers — offering anonymity to Whitehall officials, diplomats and military figures who only dare speak in secret.
He added that the key question was whether the war was legal or not — and promised that the report would not shrink from criticising individuals, in defiance of Mr Brown's original announcement that the inquiry would take place behind closed doors and not seek to apportion blame.
But Mr Hague said: “According to Sir John, sessions will be held in private not just when national security is concerned but also when there is a need for candour.
“This is a worrying new caveat. If there are difficult truths to be told they should be told in the light of day, not behind closed doors. It would be unacceptable if sessions are held in private simply because ministers or former ministers including Tony Blair, want to avoid embarrassment.”
Sir John said: “The inquiry is not a court of law and nobody is on trial. But I want to make something absolutely clear: the committee will not shy away from making criticism.
“If we find that mistakes were made, that there were issues which could have been dealt with better, we will say so frankly.”
However, the inquiry will take until late next year at the earliest to report and may drag on to 2012, which is too late to guide voters in the coming general election. Mr Hague added: “Despite Sir John's best efforts this is still not the inquiry that the nation wanted to see, and it is a classic illustration of Gordon Brown's lack of openness in government that it has been announced too late to report before the general election.”
Public hearings, broadcast live on TV and over the internet when possible, will begin in the autumn with veterans' groups and bereaved families invited to have their say.
Mr Blair and Mr Brown will be among the last witnesses to be questioned. It is the first time that such an inquiry has set out to quiz senior figures on live television.
The decision is a blow to Mr Blair, who was said to have been against a public inquiry on the grounds that it would turn into a “show trial” of himself and other protagonists.
In a press conference to set out the team's plans, Sir John said it would only hold hearings in private where necessary “to protect national security, [and] sometimes to ensure complete candour and openness from witnesses”.
He said the panel had already begun work by requesting government documents. Sir John, a former chief civil servant for Northern Ireland and an intelligence expert, added: “Frankly, I do not expect any witness whom we invite to refuse to appear.”
Between the 2003 invasion and this summer's withdrawal, 179 British personnel died in Iraq.
Reader views (44)
The post war Iraq represents a type that manifests a democratic society as a against dictatorship.But how else could this have been achieved without such an intrusion to the old regime.They also had a chance to avert the war after they had invaded poor little kwati and mesmerised the whole region with the threat of atomic bomb.May the souls of the innocent people who died rest in peace.But there is a time for peace and a time for war.May God direct future involvement in the Middle East.Grilling the elder stateman serve one purpose to reveal some of the British achievements in installing democracy in the region where tyrants could have sniff the life out of people.Kings have been beheaded in this country to arrive at this state of pure democracy.yet Britain represents the best deal any man could have in terms of civility and human right.I think Mr Blair served this country with concience ,honesty,tranparency and purpose.Future development of Iraq will signal the motive.
- Olu Aaron Omotayo-Johnson, Leicester
Both in sorrow and anger I would comment that the Chilcot inquiry will also prove toothless as have other inquiries. Though the newly converted and appointed Blessed St Tone of Blair - who is now bringing peace to the Middle-East, not! - will appear on TV to give evidence there is no QC to cross examine him. Thus he'll put in the usual consummate slippery performance and wriggle out of it.
Plus there's no major military figure on the inquiry panel and it's made up of soft, compliant personalities. I sense the 'hand of Blair' all over this, Brown having done exactly what his old partner in crime has told him to do. Though - which amply illustrates both their naivety and contempt for the electorate - they underestimated the outcry against the inquiry being held 'in camera.'
Whilst there will be 'some' admonishments, beating of chests and that old chestnut 'lesson learning' it will I fear pass off without so much as a whimper. More's the pity. It's what one has come to expect from the supine duo.
What WOULD be wonderful would be a massive public outcry on a far larger scale than even the MP's expenses scandal which forces the issue. Though I doubt that. The electorate might grumble in private but will do little publicly. And the greatest chance ever to bring Blair to account will have gone begging and we will only have ourselves to blame.
- Lord Farangonia, London
Perhaps war represents a precedent that is open to interpretation and appraisal.But wars have been fought; in the biblical times king David killed his thousands yet Christ is the root of David.Even the spread of Islam is Jihad "war".Surpose the war was averted,and mailand Britain becomes a by word in terms 9/11,IRA Brighton bombing,entring the pentagon,perhaps next time it will be the parliament,what of the whitehall,whitehouse,the palaces,even ordinary men on the streets.I believe in Mr Blair's judgement,he saved this country from 80 years IRA bloodsheed.He took an oath of the defence of the realm.Britain is a colonia master to many countries in the world including the United States.Mr Blair left this country better than it ever was. He came in with interest rates at 15% left at 4%,inflation 2% that is non inflationary in effect,employment,health,housing,education,defence of the realm at an all time high.I think he is a gift to us.His record in Europe is on high,He should be appointed the european president.
- Olu Aaron Omotayo-Johnson, Leicester
With or without the suntan?
- Linda, italy
Is that a recent picture of Bliar? Why has he got a black eye?
- Nora, London, UK
Sir John said: "The inquiry is not a court of law and nobody is on trial"
Then what is the point of something as costly as this?
The people of Great Britain, and Iraq, want to see the culprits brought to justice for whatever they did or might have done, and a whitewash show such as this will not do it. It is an insult to our nations.
- Peter Thurgood, London, UK
Tony Blair was not competent to wage war as he patent had no capacity to understand the Iraqi threat or the sad consequences of this war upon Iraq, the UK and the global population.
- Brian Edmonds, Farnham UK
I personally think Mr. Blair ( Lapdog) should be grilled by public rather than people who will let him off easily.
The government is for the people, by the people and of the people. We the general public elected him to be our prime minister and therefore he is answerable to general public.
I personally think the general public should be allowed to decided his punishment for lies he has told us and for all the innocent men, women and childrens he has killed along with is mates.
All politicians should be accountable to the public. They should be rewarded for their good work and should be punished for wrong doings.
- Irfan Faruki, Birmingham, UK
I am tentatively pleased with this news. But I can't really, truly believe that this enquiry will be hard and sharp enough to get to the bottom of what happened. I deeply believe - I think it is painfully obvious - that we went to war illegally, and that it should - must - be trivial to prove this.
I also have a deep, dull sense of resignation that no enquiry will ever report with that result. We are too badly betrayed.
- Cas, Cambridge, UK
Now hopefully the truth behind Dr Kelly's death will out?
- Timbo, Middlesex
Blair Brown Goldsmith campbell Mandelson Hoon and all the rest should all be grilled on television for the Iraq they took us to war on a lie convinced everyone that Sadam had weapons that could be fired in 45 mins
- Jacqui Williams, peterborough cambs
Ýlyas Orhanli - Total destruction for Britain? Would that be apart from Manchester where you have chosen to live?
- Pjw, London
Its pretty obvious now that NATO and the UN are backing these attrocious acts of barbarism conducted by the US and UK - They spent our money on war so that the banking system would collapse - soon the whole world will be under one bank - the NWO is coming.. Open your eyes
- Chips, London, UK
This Inquiry trikes me as being all too ready to accommodate Blair and Brown by not calling them until the last stages of their work. The first part of the Inquiry will be into the reasons for going to war in the first place. Both Blair and Brown were complicit in that decision. There is no reason why they should not be called early on and, if necessary called again at a later stage. Hundreds of thousands of people have died as a consequence of the decision to go to war and those responsible for the decision should receive no accommodation whatever beyond the normal arrangements offered to any witness.
- James Elliott, Eastbourne UK
Let's us just hope that the next hearing for Tony Blair is the international tribunal for war crimes
- Barbara, LONDON
Bucket of whitewash on its way to No 10. Instructions enclosed.
- Neil, London, London UK
This I suspect is the best we are ever going to get as far is justice for all the people kill in this illegal war. I’ll be there with a beer and nipples watching Blair and Brown squirm. I just hope they don’t get any easy time.
- Paul, London
Justice cannot exist without respect for human rights. As stated in the preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.”
MR TONY BLAIR AND GORDON BROWN, ARE YOU TWO REALLY SATISFIED WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IN IRAQ. TOTAL DESTRUCTION AND HUMILITY FOR BRITAIN. I HAVE GOT TO SAY SOMETHING TO MR BLAIR: HISTORY IS GOING TO JUDGE YOU ON THE BASIS OF HOW MANY INNOCENT PEOPLE WAS LOST ON BOTH SIDE IN THIS UNIDENTIFIBLE WAR. THANK YOU
ilyas orhanlý
- Ýlyas Orhanli, Manchester
If anyone really believes thst this will shed any light on matters then they really are fooling themselves. Any evidence not under Oath is a waste of time. Furthermore unless the Official Secrets Act is set aside Mr Blair has a cast iron reason for declining to answer most of the pertinent questions for another 30 years!
Just another huge waste of public money and yet more fees for thw lawyer gravy train.
- James Macleod Ritchie, Oyster Bay Cove
It will resemble an interview on GMTV with Gordon Brown,one his favorite stations due to NuLab connections and assurance of a soft ride. LORD Mandleson will be on his earpiece at all times to make sure he doesn't make a (what Jeremy Clarkson said) of himself.
- Edgar, London
Fraser, 'under oath' or 'not under oath' won't make one iota of difference for Blair. You'll never get the truth. Only people who are accomplished liars can get into politics, with its never-never world of half-truths. After a lifetime in politics, Blair wouldn't know 'truth' if it banged him on the head.
- Phil Jones, London UK
I'd rather see Tony Blair & Gordon Brown grilled on Live TV by Gordon Ramsey in a tomato and basil sauce. That is after they have been hung drawn and quartered.
- Adam, Harrow, UK
Everyone knows that David kelly didn't kill hiself and that Blair lied to parliament to gain approval for war.
That's New labour for you! But is it fair for the public to seek revenge for these digressions when NL have delivered what they have in Health, Education, Law & Order, Europe, Immigration, the Economy and public transport?
- Peter B, Hants
The two issues are whether Tony Blair ignored British inelligence that said Saddam Hussein did not possess weapons of mass destruction, and whether as a result deliberately lied to Parliament so as to engage in a war that would otherwise have been illegal (and arguably still was without a UN resolution )
If Gordon Brown is attempting to prevent such matters being left to public scrutiny, it does rather imply that Blair did indeed knowingly lie to Parliament and should have been impeached.
Perhaps then Europe, which has enough problems as it is, can be spared this power hungry narcissist being elevated to the undeserved position of EU President, since that is what he currently yearns !
- John, Twickenham
This Labour government DO NOT KNOW how to even spell the word TRUTH, yet alone implement it.
- Reuben Camara, Republic of Morecambe, UK
He conned me and many others into voting for him, so I assume he will easily deceive this relatively toothless inquiry. How good it would be to see him and his gang of liars on trial at the Hague – the only international “position” he is now qualified for.
- Peter Cox, Londom UK
I note that Blair will not be called until near the end of the enquiry - just enough time for him to lie his way to the EU Presidency.
- Tom Williams, Oxford UK
I'd love to see him extradited to Iraq to appear at a war crimes trial.
- C.Nichol, London
Off with his head.
- Austen, London
Presumably if there is just to be a "form of oath" the witnesses will only be required to tell a "form of truth". Lucky in Tony the Liar's case because that is all he understands.
- Jilly, London
The decision to invade Iraq in 2003 did not hinge exclusively on the issue of WMD. The media blew this point out of all proportion during the "phoney war". A long public enquiry will give people a chance to understand this, but it will not change anyone's mind about whether or not it was the right thing to do. It doesn't matter if the terms of enquiry are broadened to 1066. There is plenty for historians to research and chew over, but the cards are all already on the table as far as public opinion is concerned.
- Bloke, London
Blair is already putting together a pack of lies for the enquirey, this person has no concience whatsoever, motivated solely by power and greed, ably assisted by the delightfull cherie, my God what an evil pair they are. A nation sent to war on Blairs lies, purely to fuel his ego, lust for money and power and he swans arround the world wearing that idiot grin as if nothing happened. Surely somewhere there is justice to be found.
- Alan Davey, London UK
We must remember that the scope and remit of this inquiry have been set by Gordon Brown. Whether held in public or not, it will nly ask questions that have been sanctioned by the NuLiebour hierarchy.
It would have been better left until after they have been trounced at the next general election, so that they would have no input into its content.
To be a truly public inquiry the agenda should be set by the public, but that could only happen in a real democracy, not an elected dictatorship like ours.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster
Yes, it's about time the Blair creature was brought to book.
- Dee Jay, Fleet Hampshire
Don't worry the enquiry brief will be so limited and Tony B.Liar so slippery the truth will never come out.
Let's just hope that Sir John Chilcot is up to the task and remains truly independent and impartial.
- Mark Myword, London
New Labour and Blair bleat on about "four enquiries already held", but this merely highlights the fact that we had FOUR WHITEWASHES and nil truth. I believe that history will judge Blair (and his entire Cabinet) as guilty of putting this country into an illegal war in Iraq.
And Blair's legacy? How about lies, distortions and responsibility for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women and children for starters?
Finally, it would be most interesting to read of or hear the views of the Holy Father in the Vatican on the sins of his latest recruit into the Roman Catholic Faith. Saint Tony of dumpUK has a realistic ring, wouldn't you say?
- Ted, London
We know that the outcome of any fair, or, honest independent inquiry, whether information/evidence is given under oath, or not, will eventually expose Tony Blair for what he is, and the members of his government for what they really are! What I find to be incredible, is that he still plays a role on the international stage, appointed by governments who should know better, when he is treated as a pariah within his own country. When the results of the inquiry, are published, and, his role is fully revealed, he will be exposed for the charlatan he really is, and, we can meditate on how we, as a nation, could have been so dumb as to put such an egotistical,deceitful hypocrite in power in the first place !
- Kevin Sullivan, Roehampton, London.
Tony Blair stood in parliamanet and said Saddam Hussain had weapons of mass destruction which could be used within 45 minutes, blah, blah - he insulted the nations intelligence with his lies to fuel his ego trip. He should be charged with causing the deaths and injuries of every British soldier not to mention what he done to the Iraq people.
- Mc, London
It's about time this slimey little weasel got is come uppance
- Edriordan, wisbech
Good, it would warm the cockles of one's heart to see the 'Grinning Fool' put in the Dock. However, Lawyers will protect their own, and Blair will be treated lightly by his inquisitors. They will have been strongarmed, and 'Told to Go Lightly' on an Ex-Prime Mentalist of the UK.
Yes - it will be one very large Whitewash.
- Uncle Vanya, East Anglia Area UK
Sir John Chilcot MUST ensure that ALL "witnesses" MUST give their evidence "under oath" otherwise we'll simply end up with yet more New Labour "spin" and smoke-screens designed to either avert the "real truth" and/or bore anyone paying attention into submission!
Certainly, at the very least, Tony Blair MUST be interviewed and forced to give his evidence "under oath".
- Fraser, Telford Park
Looks like Tony has succumbed to dyeing his hair at last. But its unlikely that anything new will emerge from the enquiry even though it is being held in public. The Iraq War will go down in the annals of history as a tragedy of errors. I'm not sure you can pin the blame on any one individual. It was a lack of actual fighting experience amongst the War Cabinet that contributed to the disaster. But there have been many other disasters before in the past.
- Dhan Raj, Basildon
Quick, phone B & Q. They will need advanced warning over the quantity of whitewash required.
Chilcot 'looked into ways to put witnesses under a form of "oath"'. It either is under oath or it isn't under oath. It's a bit like Social workers saying lessons will be learned after every child fatality. Doesn't happen.
- Alan, carlisle uk
Blame for errors is not justify. They have killed and injured for life, million of peoples, badly destruction of asset, women and children were crying for help. All the reposrt were cook and bull stories. Bush had admited mistake of the war on many occassion, confirm that was the wrong infromatin by CIA. Who is responsible for all this destruction. It is open secret to every body.
The peoples around the global hate USA & UK to kill the innocent peoples in the name of WAR OF TERROR.
- Chishty, London
