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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
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| PM 'to face Iraq Inquiry early' | PM 'to face Iraq Inquiry early' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Gordon Brown will give evidence to the Iraq Inquiry before the general election, the BBC understands. | |
| Mr Brown, who has said he is "happy" to face the inquiry whenever called, had been under pressure to do so before the election, which must be held by June. | Mr Brown, who has said he is "happy" to face the inquiry whenever called, had been under pressure to do so before the election, which must be held by June. |
| The inquiry's chairman is expected to confirm later that the PM will be asked to appear but will not set a date. | The inquiry's chairman is expected to confirm later that the PM will be asked to appear but will not set a date. |
| However, the BBC understands he will appear in late February or early March. Opposition parties welcomed the news. | However, the BBC understands he will appear in late February or early March. Opposition parties welcomed the news. |
| 'Key figure' | 'Key figure' |
| A spokesman for the inquiry confirmed that Sir John Chilcot had written to the prime minister on Thursday, saying the panel would be "happy to offer him the opportunity" to appear before the election and that it planned to make the letter public on Friday morning. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| My guess is that Brown realised [the] appearance of Jack Straw at the Iraq Inquiry and next week's by Tony Blair would lead to persistent demands for him to face questioning too Nick Robinson href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2010/01/theres_no_escap_1.html">Nick Robinson: No escaping Iraq Iraq my 'hardest choice' - Straw | |
| But he said Labour would be keen not to let the potentially damaging row rumble on up until the general election - widely expected to be held on 6 May. | But he said Labour would be keen not to let the potentially damaging row rumble on up until the general election - widely expected to be held on 6 May. |
| Mr Brown will now be questioned at about the same time as International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander and Foreign Secretary David Miliband. | Mr Brown will now be questioned at about the same time as International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander and Foreign Secretary David Miliband. |
| 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. | 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 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." | In his letter to Sir John Chilcot, Mr Brown wrote: "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." |
| "He's decided he doesn't want this dragging out through an election campaign" | "He's decided he doesn't want this dragging out through an election campaign" |
| Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said it was "only right" that he explain his role "before asking the British people for their vote". | Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said it was "only right" that he explain his role "before asking the British people for their vote". |
| "It is well known that the prime minister was a key figure in Britain's decision to invade Iraq," he said. | "It is well known that the prime minister was a key figure in Britain's decision to invade Iraq," he said. |
| Shadow foreign secretary William Hague added: "The inquiry and the British public need to hear the full facts from everyone involved and as chancellor at the time he clearly has questions to answer." | Shadow foreign secretary William Hague added: "The inquiry and the British public need to hear the full facts from everyone involved and as chancellor at the time he clearly has questions to answer." |
| And Angus Robertson, the SNP's leader at Westminster who raised the issue at question time, said there "must be no delay" in setting a date for Mr Brown's appearance. | And Angus Robertson, the SNP's leader at Westminster who raised the issue at question time, said there "must be no delay" in setting a date for Mr Brown's appearance. |
| "The people deserve the whole truth about a war fought in their name but the full facts cannot be known until Gordon Brown is held to account for his actions," he said. | "The people deserve the whole truth about a war fought in their name but the full facts cannot be known until Gordon Brown is held to account for his actions," he said. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 'Moral dilemma' | 'Moral dilemma' |
| Tony Blair, who quit British politics when he stepped down as prime minister in 2007, will give evidence next Friday. Earlier former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw gave evidence and told the inquiry backing the war had been his "most difficult decision". | |
| Jack Straw: 45 minutes claim has "haunted us ever since" | Jack Straw: 45 minutes claim has "haunted us ever since" |
| He said he had faced a "profoundly difficult moral and political dilemma" as he regarded the US policy of regime change as "improper and unlawful". | He said he had faced a "profoundly difficult moral and political dilemma" as he regarded the US policy of regime change as "improper and unlawful". |
| And he said he had presented Mr Blair with an alternative plan which did not involve committing British troops alongside the Americans, in case they lost a crucial Commons vote in March 2003. | And he said he had presented Mr Blair with an alternative plan which did not involve committing British troops alongside the Americans, in case they lost a crucial Commons vote in March 2003. |
| He also said the claim in the 2002 intelligence dossier that Saddam Hussein had chemical weapons that could be used within 45 minutes of an order being given should have been "more precise" - it referred only to battlefield weapons. | He also said the claim in the 2002 intelligence dossier that Saddam Hussein had chemical weapons that could be used within 45 minutes of an order being given should have been "more precise" - it referred only to battlefield weapons. |
| "That was an error, an error that has haunted us ever since," he said. | "That was an error, an error that has haunted us ever since," he said. |
| But Mr Straw, now justice secretary, insisted Saddam Hussein posed a "serious threat" that must be addressed. | But Mr Straw, now justice secretary, insisted Saddam Hussein posed a "serious threat" that must be addressed. |
| Other key figures from the period to have given evidence are former Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon and former communications chief Alastair Campbell. | Other key figures from the period to have given evidence are former Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon and former communications chief Alastair Campbell. |
| The former Attorney General Lord Goldsmith - who advised the cabinet that military intervention would be lawful, despite raising earlier concerns - will give evidence next Wednesday. | The former Attorney General Lord Goldsmith - who advised the cabinet that military intervention would be lawful, despite raising earlier concerns - will give evidence next Wednesday. |