Former prime minister to be questioned in public and private over evidence he gave to panel on invasion’s legalityThe Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq war is to summon Tony Blair back to give evidence and he will be asked to testify in both public and private, officials saidlast night.The former prime minister, who gave nearly [...]
Bereft of lawyers, the Iraq war inquiry has suffered total forensic failure. This was a cakewalk for BlairNone of the members of the Chilcot inquiry have training in either legal principles or forensic skills. They have no permanent appointed legal experts or advisers and no appointed counsel to represent the tribunal and to cross-examine witnesses. [...]
The country needed answers on Iraq, but this limp inquiry couldn’t touch such a consummate performer as the ex PMThere was a moment during Tony Blair’s appearance before the Iraq inquiry – it came in the stretch when his limp inquisitors were fumbling an attempt to pin him down on the legality of the war [...]
The Chilcot inquiry summoned Tony Blair last week to establish facts for the historical record. But Mr Blair turned up to win history’s approval, its gratitude even. The result was pure theatre; the fluent former prime minister was given the stage and the cues. He performed.The questioning was neither forensic nor consistent enough to disturb [...]
Former PM gives no substantial ground on why he sent troops to Iraq to disarm Saddam of weapons he did not possessTony Blair ended an epic six-hour inquisition by the Chilcot inquiry last night by insisting he had “no regrets” over toppling Saddam Hussein, arguing that the world was more secure and that Iraq has [...]
When the Tories won the 1979 general election its leader received felicitations from newspaper editors to a tax-exile actorPeter Sellers Tax-exile actor: “Dear Mrs Thatcher as an ex-Goon from East Finchley I send you many congratulations on your marvellous victory.”Milton Friedman US economist: “Britain can lead us all to a rebirth of freedom as it [...]
Jackie Ashley, Jonathan Freedland, Martin Kettle, Seumas Milne and Henry Porter look at Tony Blair’s Iraq inquiry performanceJackie Ashley The body language said it all. Tony Blair began his day at the Chilcot inquiry visibly strained, even shaking, according to one television channel, which focused on his hands. There was none of the easy charm [...]
What the former prime minister told the Chilcot panel in briefIn evidence to the Chilcot inquiry today, Tony Blair said:• “No regrets at removing Saddam Hussein. He was a monster and a threat. The world is safer as a result. He reflects on his decision every day.”If we had left Saddam in power, we [...]
Amid heckles, the former PM told Chilcot inquiry Saddam Hussein was a ‘monster’ who needed to be dealt withTony Blair told the Chilcot inquiry, at the end of six hours of evidence this afternoon, that he had no regrets for Britain’s part in the Iraq war and its aftermath.In a final statement before the hearing [...]
So far this session has done little more than allow the former prime minister to state his defence – hardly the pointThe sheer length, lack of focus, and scope for manoeuvre in the Chilcot panel’s questions were revealed in all their vagueness at the Iraq inquiry today, as a nervous and tense Tony Blair nevertheless [...]