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Tories urge 'proper Iraq U-turn' Brown hint on Iraq inquiry move
(about 17 hours later)
David Cameron says he will push Gordon Brown for a "proper U-turn" on the Iraq inquiry in a debate on Wednesday. Gordon Brown would be willing to give evidence in public to the Iraq inquiry if national security considerations are met, his spokesman has said.
The Conservative leader told the BBC Mr Brown and his predecessor as PM, Tony Blair, must give evidence in public. The comments came ahead of a Commons debate on the issue in which the Tories are calling for him and Tony Blair to appear in public before the inquiry.
The Tories tabled a debate calling for a public inquiry after Mr Brown told MPs it would be held in private. The Tories tabled the debate after Mr Brown told MPs it would be in private.
But the prime minister has since said some hearings could be open. He says he will give evidence in public if asked by inquiry chairman Sir John Chilcot. Mr Brown has since said some hearings could be open but the opposition has pressed him to give further assurance.
Announcing the long awaited inquiry into the run up, conduct and aftermath of the 2003 invasion last week, Mr Brown told MPs it would be held in private for national security reasons. "If those considerations concerning national security are met, then of course the prime minister would have no difficulty in giving evidence in public," the prime minister's spokesman said.
'Complete mess' 'Seriously overdue'
The Commons debate is now under way and is expected to conclude with a vote at about 1900 BST.
Opening the debate for the Conservatives, William Hague said the reasons the prime minister had given for holding an inquiry in private were "not credible" and said he had changed his approach "when faced with the possibility of a difficult vote in this House".
They need to come to the House of Commons and say it is predominantly public David Cameron Brown denies Iraq inquiry U-turn
"Now an inquiry that is seriously overdue can't get off to a clean start, it will spend a considerable amount of time adjusting its remit."
For the government, David Miliband told MPs the inquiry was "not a trial or an impeachment but an effort to learn for the future". He said it would deliver "insight and value" and deserved support.
But he said there was a balance to be struck between "speed and confidentiality" and "comprehensiveness and transparency".
He added: "It's not a judicial inquiry ... it can praise or blame whoever it likes, it is free to write its own report at any stage."
'Predominantly public'
The former international development secretary Clare Short, who resigned as a Labour MP and now sits as an independent after criticising Tony Blair for "half truths" over Iraq, said evidence should be taken under oath.
Announcing the long-awaited inquiry into the run-up, conduct and aftermath of the 2003 invasion last week, Mr Brown told MPs it would be held in private for national security reasons.
But, amid criticism from some military figures and Lord Butler, the author of the last report into Iraq, he wrote to Sir John and told him he could hold some public sessions if he chose to.But, amid criticism from some military figures and Lord Butler, the author of the last report into Iraq, he wrote to Sir John and told him he could hold some public sessions if he chose to.
The important thing is not to confuse government embarrassment with the national interest Sir Menzies Campbell
Sir John replied that he felt it was "essential" to hold as much as possible in public - while protecting national security and the need to get "candour" from witnesses.Sir John replied that he felt it was "essential" to hold as much as possible in public - while protecting national security and the need to get "candour" from witnesses.
Mr Cameron said his party had been pushing for an inquiry for three years and when the government had finally announced it, they had made a "complete mess of it".Mr Cameron said his party had been pushing for an inquiry for three years and when the government had finally announced it, they had made a "complete mess of it".
I'm trying to find a way of getting an inquiry that can satisfy people that we're doing everything in our power to get to the truth Gordon Brown Brown denies Iraq inquiry U-turn
"The government have only made some changes because of the pressure from the Conservatives but they are doing this hand to mouth and making it up as they go along," he told the BBC.
"They need to come to the House of Commons and say it is predominantly public, they need a wider membership, they need military experience and they need to guarantee that Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Alastair Campbell [Tony Blair's former press secretary] give evidence in public.""They need to come to the House of Commons and say it is predominantly public, they need a wider membership, they need military experience and they need to guarantee that Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Alastair Campbell [Tony Blair's former press secretary] give evidence in public."
He also said he wanted to see "more military members, with more political experience" on the inquiry panel and an interim report published before the next general election.
"That's why we will press this in the House of Commons tomorrow to get a proper U-turn out of the government."
A Downing Street spokesman said Mr Brown would cooperate fully with the Iraq inquiry, including giving evidence in public if required but he said it would be up to Sir John to decide who to call as witnesses.A Downing Street spokesman said Mr Brown would cooperate fully with the Iraq inquiry, including giving evidence in public if required but he said it would be up to Sir John to decide who to call as witnesses.
Earlier Mr Brown denied making a U-turn in accepting some of the inquiry could be held in public. Mr Brown has denied making a U-turn in accepting some of the inquiry could be held in public and has said he wanted the inquiry to have "all evidence that is necessary" including confidential material.
He told the BBC he wanted the inquiry to have "all evidence that is necessary" including confidential material. He has also pointed out the Conservatives had been asking for a Franks-style inquiry - a reference to the committee that reviewed the Falklands War - which was partly held in private.
"I'm trying to find a way of getting an inquiry that can satisfy people that we're doing everything in our power to get to the truth while at the same time I think everybody understands ... you've got to take into account national security considerations and that you've got serving military who will want to give evidence .. sometimes in private."
He pointed out the Conservatives had been asking for a Franks-style inquiry - a reference to the committee that reviewed the Falklands War - which was partly held in private.
Mr Cameron and the Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg have met Sir John to discuss the format of the inquiry.Mr Cameron and the Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg have met Sir John to discuss the format of the inquiry.
Mr Clegg was told Tony Blair would be asked to give some evidence in public and that witnesses would not be made to give evidence under oath as it was a non-judicial inquiry, but an equivalent format would be found. Former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said there should be a "presumption" that Mr Blair and other key figures in the decision to go to war should give evidence in public unless national security interests dictated otherwise.
Mr Clegg's spokesman said Sir John had made "a sincere attempt to make up for the shortcomings of Gordon Brown's initial announcement" but he wanted guarantees that there would be proper cross examination of witnesses. "The important thing is not to confuse government embarrassment with the national interest," he said.