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LIVE: Campbell faces Iraq inquiry LIVE: Campbell faces Iraq inquiry
(10 minutes later)
By Emma Griffiths 1006 First question from Sir Roderic Lyne - he asks if Mr Campbell was Mr Blair's longest serving close advisers. No, says Mr Campbell - suggesting Jonathan Powell might have been there longer. Sir Roderic asks what his actual role was - Mr Campbell said he worked with the PM and other officials to help devise and implement communications strategies. Pressed further he says he was also involved in political strategies. By Emma Griffiths 1017 There were informal discussions and phone calls as well as the official Monday morning meetings. Were they formally recorded in terms of minutes, asks Sir Roderic. No, replies Mr Campbell, the calls could be about anything - including dealing with the media. He might e-mail other people if asked to do something like prepare a speech - or dictate it to his PA.
1015 Some have suggested Sir Roderic, a former running partner of Mr Campbell might go easy on him but he keeps cutting him off mid flow to get Mr Campbell back onto the inquiry's remit. He has concentrated on asking about Mr Blair's inner circle of advisers and confidantes in the run-up to the Iraq war. Mr Campbell says there were a lot of people Mr Blair would speak to, in person or on the telephone. Admiral Boyce, John Scarlett, Jack Straw and Geoff Hoon - and Mr Campbell were at the formal Iraq meetings, he said.
1013 Mr Campbell said Labour in 1997 inherited an outdated communications system from the Conservative government. Sir Roderic says that is before the timescale of the inquiry. Was Peter Mandelson in the inner circle of Iraq advisers, he asks? No, says Mr Campbell - but he says Gordon Brown was "one of the key ministers he would have spoken to regularly".
1011 John Scarlett, Richard Dearlove, Jack Straw and Geoff Hoon were also important - as were Gordon Brown and John Prescott, Mr Campbell adds. Sally Morgan was key to his relations with the Labour Party. "I've never been a policy person," he says - Sir Roderic says he has previously said he was "involved in a lot of the policy discussions" about Iraq. Mr Campbell said he was, but as they related to "communications issues".
1008 Sir Roderic asks how close Mr Campbell worked with Mr Blair. "Very," replies Mr Campbell, saying Mr Blair could not do the job alone and was dependent on political colleagues. Sir Roderic cuts him off and says, apart from him and Mr Powell, who was in Mr Blair's inner circle of advisers - Mr Cameron says David Manning was ahead of himself.
1007 Sir Roderic says it was not just about dealing with the media - he quotes Mr Campbell's own diary back at him, and asks if he was there to do "whatever the prime minster asked you to do". Mr Campbell replies that he wouldn't have jumped off a building if Mr Blair asked him. "Be serious", says Sir Roderick.
1006 First question from Sir Roderic Lyne - he asks if Mr Campbell was Mr Blair's longest serving close advisers. No, says Mr Campbell - suggesting Jonathan Powell might have been there longer. Sir Roderic asks what his actual role was - Mr Campbell said he worked with the PM and other officials to help devise and implement communications strategies. Pressed further he says he was also involved in political strategies.
1004 Panel chairman Sir John Chilcot says they'll be looking at the presentation of the case for military action, including the drafting of the two dossiers among other things he says, admitting much is "familiar ground". No new documents will be declassified today, says Sir John.1004 Panel chairman Sir John Chilcot says they'll be looking at the presentation of the case for military action, including the drafting of the two dossiers among other things he says, admitting much is "familiar ground". No new documents will be declassified today, says Sir John.
1002 And we're off. The panel are in their seats.1002 And we're off. The panel are in their seats.
0959 Mr Campbell is due to give evidence this morning from 1000 GMT to 1300 GMT. He's the only person before the inquiry today. Tony Blair will give evidence within weeks although the exact date is not known.0959 Mr Campbell is due to give evidence this morning from 1000 GMT to 1300 GMT. He's the only person before the inquiry today. Tony Blair will give evidence within weeks although the exact date is not known.
0958 Mr Campbell's name has not cropped up at previous hearings but former MI6 chief Sir John Scarlett, at his appearance in December, denied being put under pressure to "firm up" the September 2002 dossier - which assessed weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. However he did point out that the foreword was written by Tony Blair, not him. Mr Campbell might be asked if he was involved in writing the foreword.0958 Mr Campbell's name has not cropped up at previous hearings but former MI6 chief Sir John Scarlett, at his appearance in December, denied being put under pressure to "firm up" the September 2002 dossier - which assessed weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. However he did point out that the foreword was written by Tony Blair, not him. Mr Campbell might be asked if he was involved in writing the foreword.
0955 The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said Mr Campbell looked relaxed when he arrived - despite being swamped by press as he got out of his car. He has already given evidence on Iraq twice - to the Commons foreign affairs committee and the Hutton inquiry. As well as being Tony Blair's communications director at the time, he was also one of the then PM's closest confidantes, she said.0955 The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said Mr Campbell looked relaxed when he arrived - despite being swamped by press as he got out of his car. He has already given evidence on Iraq twice - to the Commons foreign affairs committee and the Hutton inquiry. As well as being Tony Blair's communications director at the time, he was also one of the then PM's closest confidantes, she said.
0950 Hello and welcome to our live coverage of today's Iraq inquiry hearing which will see Tony Blair's former communications director Alastair Campbell give evidence from 10am until 1pm. There have been several inquiries into aspects of the Iraq war before and this is not the first time Mr Campbell has given evidence. But this inquiry is the widest ranging and as this will be the first appearance by a major household name, a queue for seats at the hearing began forming early. You can watch it all live on this page, I'll be writing up all the key points as they happen plus bringing you the pick of analysis from BBC colleagues. We'll also include reactions from your emails and from coverage elsewhere on the web.0950 Hello and welcome to our live coverage of today's Iraq inquiry hearing which will see Tony Blair's former communications director Alastair Campbell give evidence from 10am until 1pm. There have been several inquiries into aspects of the Iraq war before and this is not the first time Mr Campbell has given evidence. But this inquiry is the widest ranging and as this will be the first appearance by a major household name, a queue for seats at the hearing began forming early. You can watch it all live on this page, I'll be writing up all the key points as they happen plus bringing you the pick of analysis from BBC colleagues. We'll also include reactions from your emails and from coverage elsewhere on the web.