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Butler attacks secret Iraq probe Butler attacks secret Iraq probe
(10 minutes later)
The author of the last official report into the Iraq war, Lord Butler, is to criticise the government's plans to hold a new inquiry behind closed doors.The author of the last official report into the Iraq war, Lord Butler, is to criticise the government's plans to hold a new inquiry behind closed doors.
He will accuse the government of "putting its political interests ahead of the national interest".He will accuse the government of "putting its political interests ahead of the national interest".
The former cabinet secretary will argue in the Lords later that there should be a public element to the inquiry, BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson says.The former cabinet secretary will argue in the Lords later that there should be a public element to the inquiry, BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson says.
The government says it wants to avoid damaging Britain's national security.The government says it wants to avoid damaging Britain's national security.
But Lord Butler believes that the inquiry, to be chaired by one of those who sat on his inquiry - senior civil servant Sir John Chilcot - must do more than "learn the lessons" from the war.But Lord Butler believes that the inquiry, to be chaired by one of those who sat on his inquiry - senior civil servant Sir John Chilcot - must do more than "learn the lessons" from the war.
There must, he will say, be a "truth and reconciliation" element to it as well.There must, he will say, be a "truth and reconciliation" element to it as well.
'Lies and deceit''Lies and deceit'
He will criticise ministers for failing to get the agreement of the opposition parties and approval of Parliament for the membership, remit and format of the Inquiry contrasting their approach with that taken by Margaret Thatcher when she set up the Franks Inquiry into the Falklands War.He will criticise ministers for failing to get the agreement of the opposition parties and approval of Parliament for the membership, remit and format of the Inquiry contrasting their approach with that taken by Margaret Thatcher when she set up the Franks Inquiry into the Falklands War.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said the government did secure the consent of opposition parties on the membership of the inquiry. Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said the government did consult opposition parties on the membership of the inquiry.
But Conservative leader David Cameron accused Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who announced the inquiry on Monday, of "an establishment stitch-up", while the Lib Dems have threatened to boycott the inquiry if it is held in private.But Conservative leader David Cameron accused Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who announced the inquiry on Monday, of "an establishment stitch-up", while the Lib Dems have threatened to boycott the inquiry if it is held in private.
MPs will debate a Tory motion next week calling for the inquiry's proceedings to be held in public "whenever possible".
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said: "To have real credibility the inquiry needs to be open to the public whenever possible.
"I hope the government will come to its senses and listen to the sincere objections being made, seek a genuine consensus and revise its proposals for the inquiry."
The motion is likely to be backed by the Lib Dems, who support a public inquiry, and could attract support from some Labour MPs who oppose the government's position.
Campaigners have also criticised the decision not to hold public hearings.Campaigners have also criticised the decision not to hold public hearings.
John Miller, whose son Simon was killed in Iraq in 2003, said private hearings would be marred by "lies and deceit".John Miller, whose son Simon was killed in Iraq in 2003, said private hearings would be marred by "lies and deceit".
'Fully independent''Fully independent'
The inquiry will cover the period from July 2001 to July 2009. Hearings will start next month and take at least a year.The inquiry will cover the period from July 2001 to July 2009. Hearings will start next month and take at least a year.
Announcing the inquiry in the Commons on Monday, Mr Brown said it was designed on a similar basis to the Franks inquiry and it would aim to identify "lessons learned".Announcing the inquiry in the Commons on Monday, Mr Brown said it was designed on a similar basis to the Franks inquiry and it would aim to identify "lessons learned".
Lord Butler believes that the inquiry must do more than 'learn the lessons' from the war. There must, he will say, be a 'truth and reconciliation' element to it as well Nick Robinson's blogLord Butler believes that the inquiry must do more than 'learn the lessons' from the war. There must, he will say, be a 'truth and reconciliation' element to it as well Nick Robinson's blog
He added it would hear evidence in private so witnesses could be "as candid as possible".He added it would hear evidence in private so witnesses could be "as candid as possible".
He said the final report would reveal "all but the most secret of information" and the "unprecedented" process would be "fully independent of government".He said the final report would reveal "all but the most secret of information" and the "unprecedented" process would be "fully independent of government".
Lord Butler's 2004 inquiry, which itself took all its evidence in private, found "serious flaws" in the intelligence used to justify war with Iraq.Lord Butler's 2004 inquiry, which itself took all its evidence in private, found "serious flaws" in the intelligence used to justify war with Iraq.
The 196 page report said MI6 did not check its sources well enough, and sometimes relied on third hand reports.The 196 page report said MI6 did not check its sources well enough, and sometimes relied on third hand reports.
It also says the 2002 dossier used by the government to make the case for war should not have included the claim Iraq could use weapons of mass destruction within 45 minutes without further explanation.It also says the 2002 dossier used by the government to make the case for war should not have included the claim Iraq could use weapons of mass destruction within 45 minutes without further explanation.
The Butler inquiry was also designed along similar lines to the Franks inquiry, in that it was given access to all intelligence reports and other relevant documents.The Butler inquiry was also designed along similar lines to the Franks inquiry, in that it was given access to all intelligence reports and other relevant documents.