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PM 'to face Iraq Inquiry early' Brown to face Iraq inquiry early
(about 9 hours later)
Gordon Brown will give evidence to the Iraq Inquiry before the general election, the BBC understands. Gordon Brown will give evidence to the Iraq inquiry before the general election, it has been confirmed.
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. Inquiry chairman Sir John Chilcot said the prime minister had agreed to appear "within the next two months".
The inquiry's chairman is expected to confirm later that the PM will be asked to appear but will not set a date. It follows pressure from opposition parties for him to give evidence before the election - expected in May.
However, the BBC understands he will appear in late February or early March. Opposition parties welcomed the news. Downing Street said Mr Brown had "nothing to hide" and the decision was not connected to ex-defence secretary Geoff Hoon's evidence to the inquiry.
'Key figure' Mr Brown's official spokesman said the prime minister was "keen to take up the opportunity to state the case about why Britain was right to take the action it did in respect to Iraq".
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. Mr Hoon was critical of government funding for defence when he appeared before the inquiry on Tuesday, saying the department was underfunded for many years and requests for "significantly more money" were turned down.
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. Exchange of letters
Sir John said he wanted the inquiry to "stay outside party politics" but he said Mr Brown had written to him to say he was happy to appear whenever the panel wanted.
In his reply, Sir John said "as a matter of fairness", he would offer Mr Brown the opportunity to appear before the election.
The date for his appearance will be agreed in the next few days but it is likely to be at the end of February or the beginning of March.
I want to make it absolutely clear I am prepared to give evidence whenever you see fit Gordon Brown's letter to inquiry
Opposition parties welcomed the news, saying the electorate were entitled to know what role Mr Brown, as chancellor, played in the decision to go to war in 2003 before casting their votes.
The inquiry published details of a letter from No 10 to Sir John in which Mr Brown wrote: "I want to make it absolutely clear I am prepared to give evidence whenever you see fit."
In his reply, Sir John said he was determined that the inquiry should not be used as a "platform for political advantage by any party".
He said the committee was still concerned about the risk of the hearings being politicised in the run-up to the election.
But he added: "But as a matter of fairness, the committee has concluded that it should offer, if you wish to take it up, the opportunity for you to attend hearings before the election."
Likely dates
Sir John said the prime minister and the committee would need time to prepare for his appearance.
The letter adds: "That means if you take up the offer, holding hearings at the end of February or early March."
However, he also notes that the session would have to be postponed if a general election was called in the meantime.
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 Nick Robinson: No escaping Iraq Iraq my 'hardest choice' - StrawMy 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 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. International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander and Foreign Secretary David Miliband are also now to appear before the election.
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."
"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. 'No delay'
"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. Mr Hague said the prime minister had "only himself to blame" for the timing of his appearance as the inquiry could have been held much earlier but Mr Brown had "dragged out" it out.
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. 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.
'Moral dilemma' William Hague welcomes the decision
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". "Gordon Brown has much to answer for - not least why he as Chancellor could agree to an illegal and immoral invasion but lacked the courage to stand up for our troops and provide the right equipment as they were put in harms way," he said.
Jack Straw: 45 minutes claim has "haunted us ever since" The BBC's Political Editor Nick Robinson said the timing of Mr Brown's appearance would be "unwelcome" for many in Labour as it would resurrect an issue which was damaging to the party at the last election.
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". From the start of the inquiry, Sir John had made clear that hearings would not be held in the run-up to the election to allow it to remain outside party politics.
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. The committee decided last year not to call Mr Brown and other ministers with current responsibilities for Iraq before the election.
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. But as key figures such as former No 10 communications chief Alastair Campbell and ex-foreign secretary Jack Straw have begun to give evidence in recent days, this position has become increasingly controversial.
"That was an error, an error that has haunted us ever since," he said. Tony Blair, who quit British politics when he stepped down as prime minister in 2007, will give evidence next Friday.
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.
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.