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| PM 'to face Iraq Inquiry early' | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown will be called to give evidence to the Iraq Inquiry before the general election, the BBC understands. | |
| The prime minister had been due to appear before Sir John Chilcot's inquiry after the election - due by June at the latest. | The prime minister had been due to appear before Sir John Chilcot's inquiry after the election - due by June at the latest. |
| But he has been under pressure from opposition parties to explain his role before voters go to the polls. | But he has been under pressure from opposition parties to explain his role before voters go to the polls. |
| Mr Brown was chancellor at the time of the 2003 invasion and has said he will be "happy" to appear whenever called. | Mr Brown was chancellor at the time of the 2003 invasion and has said he will be "happy" to appear whenever called. |
| BBC deputy political editor James Landale said it was not yet known if whether it was Mr Brown or Sir John who had decided to call for an earlier appearance. | |
| 'Signed the cheques' | |
| But he said Labour would be keen not to let the potentially damaging row rumble on up until the General Election. | |
| Last week Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg had told Mr Brown people were entitled to know what his role had been before they voted as he had "signed the cheques". | |
| At prime minister's questions on Wednesday, Mr Brown told MPs he had written to Sir John saying he was happy to appear "at any time" before the committee - but it was up to the independent panel to decide. | |
| In his letter to Sir John Chilcot, Mr Brown wrote: "I am clear that it is a matter for you how you conduct the inquiry and that it is, and must remain, entirely independent of government. | |
| "In undertaking this, you have rightly chosen the order you wish to receive evidence. | |
| "For my part, I want to make it absolutely clear I am prepared to give evidence whenever you see fit. I remain happy to take your advice on this matter." | |
| Mr Clegg had said that was not enough and Mr Brown should "insist" on giving evidence before the election - widely expected to be called on 6 May. | |
| Inquiry chairman Sir John had indicated that hearings would not be held in the run-up to the election to allow the inquiry to remain outside party politics. |