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Iraq probe 'may be partly public' Iraq probe 'may be partly public'
(about 2 hours later)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has told the man heading up an independent inquiry into Iraq that he can decide to hold public sessions if he chooses.Prime Minister Gordon Brown has told the man heading up an independent inquiry into Iraq that he can decide to hold public sessions if he chooses.
Mr Brown told MPs on Monday the inquiry would be held in private for national security reasons.Mr Brown told MPs on Monday the inquiry would be held in private for national security reasons.
Opposition parties accused him of a "stitch up" and Lord Butler, the author of the last official report into Iraq, is set to criticise that decision. Opposition parties accused him of a "stitch up" and Lord Butler, the author of the last official report into Iraq, has criticised that decision.
The PM has written to Sir John Chilcot saying he can hold public sessions.The PM has written to Sir John Chilcot saying he can hold public sessions.
On Wednesday various other figures called for the inquiry to be held in public.On Wednesday various other figures called for the inquiry to be held in public.
'Sensitive evidence''Sensitive evidence'
General Sir Michael Jackson, who was head of the Army during the 2003 Iraq invasion, told the BBC it "must be open wherever possible".General Sir Michael Jackson, who was head of the Army during the 2003 Iraq invasion, told the BBC it "must be open wherever possible".
Lord Scott, who conducted the Arms-to-Iraq inquiry in 1992-1996, told the BBC "to allay public disquiet" it should be held in public.Lord Scott, who conducted the Arms-to-Iraq inquiry in 1992-1996, told the BBC "to allay public disquiet" it should be held in public.
And in a report published on Thursday, the Commons public administration committee said: "Inquiry proceedings should as a rule be held in public, with only very limited exceptions to consider the most sensitive evidence.And in a report published on Thursday, the Commons public administration committee said: "Inquiry proceedings should as a rule be held in public, with only very limited exceptions to consider the most sensitive evidence.
If it's some sort of U-turn then that is to be welcomed but clearly it is not going to go far enough Edward DaveyLiberal Democrats Anger over 'secret Iraq inquiry' Iraq war inquiry to be in privateIf it's some sort of U-turn then that is to be welcomed but clearly it is not going to go far enough Edward DaveyLiberal Democrats Anger over 'secret Iraq inquiry' Iraq war inquiry to be in private
"Decisions to conduct particular proceedings in private should be made by members of the inquiry itself, not by the government.""Decisions to conduct particular proceedings in private should be made by members of the inquiry itself, not by the government."
Meanwhile Lord Butler, a former cabinet secretary, has told peers: "I reluctantly conclude that the form of the inquiry proposed by the government has been dictated more by the government's political interest than the national interest and it cannot achieve the purpose of purging mistrust."
He said the way it had been arranged would ensure "that we will hear no more about it until after the general election" and it must both allow lessons to be learned but also enact a "truth and reconciliation process" for those who felt misled.
National security
On Monday the prime minister told MPs the inquiry would hear evidence in private so witnesses could be "as full and as candid as possible".On Monday the prime minister told MPs the inquiry would hear evidence in private so witnesses could be "as full and as candid as possible".
He said he was following Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell's advice in holding sessions in private " taking into account national security considerations ... for example what might damager or reduce our military capability in the future". He said he was following Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell's advice in holding sessions in private " taking into account national security considerations ... for example what might damage or reduce our military capability in the future".
However on Thursday his spokesman said it was never "an issue of theology" for ministers whether the inquiry was held in public or private.However on Thursday his spokesman said it was never "an issue of theology" for ministers whether the inquiry was held in public or private.
'Candid' evidence 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 class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2009/06/a_public_elemen.html">Nick Robinson's blog
He said Mr Brown wrote to inquiry chairman Sir John Chilcot to say that the families of those who died in Iraq may wish to give evidence and it would be up to Sir John to decide at their request whether to hold public sessions.He said Mr Brown wrote to inquiry chairman Sir John Chilcot to say that the families of those who died in Iraq may wish to give evidence and it would be up to Sir John to decide at their request whether to hold public sessions.
He also asked him to consider whether witnesses would give evidence under oath.He also asked him to consider whether witnesses would give evidence under oath.
The prime minister's spokesman added: "This is not some protracted Saville-type inquiry that goes on for years involving countless lawyers.The prime minister's spokesman added: "This is not some protracted Saville-type inquiry that goes on for years involving countless lawyers.
"I think it will be up to Sir John to consider how the precise format of the inquiry should be structured to ensure that the objectives are met."I think it will be up to Sir John to consider how the precise format of the inquiry should be structured to ensure that the objectives are met.
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 blog
"The issue for us has always been to ensure that the inquiry is structured in a way that gets to the truth and people are able to speak honestly and candidly about how decisions were taken.""The issue for us has always been to ensure that the inquiry is structured in a way that gets to the truth and people are able to speak honestly and candidly about how decisions were taken."
U-turn
Shadow foreign Secretary William Hague said: "This is a step forward in the arrangements for the inquiry, but we need to see a proper U-turn by the prime minister not a half hearted measure, in order to ensure that this inquiry is conducted in the way that the public and Parliament of this country deserve."
Liberal Democrat spokesman Ed Davey told the BBC: "I don't think it should be left to him [inquiry chairman Sir John Chilcot] - I think the prime minister should be giving a lead for once.Liberal Democrat spokesman Ed Davey told the BBC: "I don't think it should be left to him [inquiry chairman Sir John Chilcot] - I think the prime minister should be giving a lead for once.
"Frankly the fact he has been pushed and cajoled and forced into this by statements from Lord Butler and by military and senior intelligence officers shows how weak and how pathetic he has behaved about this.""Frankly the fact he has been pushed and cajoled and forced into this by statements from Lord Butler and by military and senior intelligence officers shows how weak and how pathetic he has behaved about this."
Mr Davey added: "If it's some sort of U-turn then that is to be welcomed but clearly it is not going to go far enough."Mr Davey added: "If it's some sort of U-turn then that is to be welcomed but clearly it is not going to go far enough."
Franks inquiry
Later Lord Butler will accuse the government of "putting its political interests ahead of the national interest".
BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said the former cabinet secretary would argue in the Lords that there should be a public element to the inquiry.
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.
FROM THE WORLD AT ONE More from the World At OneFROM THE WORLD AT ONE More from the World At One
Lord Hutton, who chaired a 2003 inquiry into the death of Iraq weapons expert Dr David Kelly, is also in favour of the bulk of the evidence in the latest inquiry being heard in public, according to The Independent newspaper.Lord Hutton, who chaired a 2003 inquiry into the death of Iraq weapons expert Dr David Kelly, is also in favour of the bulk of the evidence in the latest inquiry being heard in public, according to The Independent newspaper.
And the head of the Army, Sir Richard Dannatt, has said he saw "a lot of merit" in holding some hearings in public.And the head of the Army, Sir Richard Dannatt, has said he saw "a lot of merit" in holding some hearings in public.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said the government did consult opposition parties on the membership of the new inquiry.Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said the government did consult opposition parties on the membership of the new inquiry.
But Conservative leader David Cameron accused the prime minister, 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 the prime minister of "an establishment stitch-up", while the Lib Dems have threatened to boycott the inquiry if it is held in private.
Lord Scott, who conducted the Arms-to-Iraq inquiry in 1992-1996, told BBC Radio 4's The World At One that there was bound to be some evidence that had to be kept private.Lord Scott, who conducted the Arms-to-Iraq inquiry in 1992-1996, told BBC Radio 4's The World At One that there was bound to be some evidence that had to be kept private.
But he added: "I take the view that an inquiry, the purpose of which is to allay public disquiet about some event in which the government or the state has been involved, is not going to achieve its purpose unless it is broadly speaking held in public."But he added: "I take the view that an inquiry, the purpose of which is to allay public disquiet about some event in which the government or the state has been involved, is not going to achieve its purpose unless it is broadly speaking held in public."
And General Sir Mike Jackson said if the inquiry was to address "public disquiet" about Iraq "it must be open wherever possible".And General Sir Mike Jackson said if the inquiry was to address "public disquiet" about Iraq "it must be open wherever possible".
He also told the BBC he was concerned there was not a senior military figure on the panel to advice them on "the military dimension".He also told the BBC he was concerned there was not a senior military figure on the panel to advice them on "the military dimension".
MPs will debate a Tory motion next week calling for the inquiry's proceedings to be held in public "whenever possible".MPs will debate a Tory motion next week calling for the inquiry's proceedings to be held in public "whenever possible".
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.