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Blair denies 'covert' Bush deal Blair denies 'covert' Bush deal
(10 minutes later)
Tony Blair has denied striking a "covert" deal with then US President George Bush to invade Iraq at a private meeting in 2002 at his Crawford ranch.Tony Blair has denied striking a "covert" deal with then US President George Bush to invade Iraq at a private meeting in 2002 at his Crawford ranch.
Mr Blair said he had been "open" about what had been discussed - that Saddam Hussein had to be dealt with and "the method of doing that is open".Mr Blair said he had been "open" about what had been discussed - that Saddam Hussein had to be dealt with and "the method of doing that is open".
He said he had told the US president: "We have to deal with his WMD and if that means regime change so be it."He said he had told the US president: "We have to deal with his WMD and if that means regime change so be it."
Mr Blair is being questioned by the Iraq inquiry.Mr Blair is being questioned by the Iraq inquiry.
Earlier witnesses have suggested that Mr Blair told Mr Bush at their April 2002 meeting that the UK would join the Americans in a war with Iraq.Earlier witnesses have suggested that Mr Blair told Mr Bush at their April 2002 meeting that the UK would join the Americans in a war with Iraq.
THE STORY SO FAR... In April 2002, with 9/11 still dominating the agenda, Tony Blair warns of Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destructionDespite the biggest anti-war protest in British history, in March 2003 British forces join the US invasion of Iraq after efforts to get UN backing failWith no weapons of mass destruction found attention switches to the way intelligence was used to justify warThe Hutton inquiry finds the government did not "sex up" dossier on Saddam's weaponsBut the Butler inquiry finds "serious flaws" in pre-war intelligenceAnd with public feelings still running high, Gordon Brown announces Chilcot inquiry to "learn the lessons" of the Iraq conflict. Live: Video, and text commentary Q&A: Iraq inquiry explainedTHE STORY SO FAR... In April 2002, with 9/11 still dominating the agenda, Tony Blair warns of Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destructionDespite the biggest anti-war protest in British history, in March 2003 British forces join the US invasion of Iraq after efforts to get UN backing failWith no weapons of mass destruction found attention switches to the way intelligence was used to justify warThe Hutton inquiry finds the government did not "sex up" dossier on Saddam's weaponsBut the Butler inquiry finds "serious flaws" in pre-war intelligenceAnd with public feelings still running high, Gordon Brown announces Chilcot inquiry to "learn the lessons" of the Iraq conflict. Live: Video, and text commentary Q&A: Iraq inquiry explained
Mr Blair also denied he would have supported the invasion of Iraq even if he had thought Saddam Hussein did not possess weapons of mass destruction, as he appeared to suggest last year in a BBC interview.Mr Blair also denied he would have supported the invasion of Iraq even if he had thought Saddam Hussein did not possess weapons of mass destruction, as he appeared to suggest last year in a BBC interview.
Removing Saddam was "always an option", it was only one of several options open to the US and UK, he said.Removing Saddam was "always an option", it was only one of several options open to the US and UK, he said.
"I did not use the words regime change in that interview," he said."I did not use the words regime change in that interview," he said.
"The position was a breach of UN resolutions on WMD. That was the case. It was then and it remains.""The position was a breach of UN resolutions on WMD. That was the case. It was then and it remains."
Inquiry chairman Sir John Chilcot began the six hour question session by stressing that Mr Blair was not "on trial" but said the former prime minister could be recalled to give further evidence if necessary.Inquiry chairman Sir John Chilcot began the six hour question session by stressing that Mr Blair was not "on trial" but said the former prime minister could be recalled to give further evidence if necessary.
The former PM began the session by saying Britain's attitude towards the risk posed by Saddam Hussein "changed dramatically" after 11 September 2001.The former PM began the session by saying Britain's attitude towards the risk posed by Saddam Hussein "changed dramatically" after 11 September 2001.
The former PM said that the policy up to that point was one of "containment".The former PM said that the policy up to that point was one of "containment".
Mr Blair is facing questions in public for the first time about taking the UK to war against Iraq.Mr Blair is facing questions in public for the first time about taking the UK to war against Iraq.
Families of some of the 179 British service personnel killed in Iraq are watching the evidence with others said to be joining the 200 or so anti-war protestors outside.Families of some of the 179 British service personnel killed in Iraq are watching the evidence with others said to be joining the 200 or so anti-war protestors outside.
Rose Gentle's son, Gordon, was killed by a roadside bomb in Basra in 2004, while serving with the Royal Highland Fusiliers.Rose Gentle's son, Gordon, was killed by a roadside bomb in Basra in 2004, while serving with the Royal Highland Fusiliers.
Regime changeRegime change
She said the families of the dead wanted closure and for Mr Blair to explain "in depth" to the families and and the public "why he went in" as she said he had never done that before.She said the families of the dead wanted closure and for Mr Blair to explain "in depth" to the families and and the public "why he went in" as she said he had never done that before.
The Chilcot inquiry is likely to ask Mr Blair at what stage he promised US President George W Bush Britain would support military action against Iraq.The Chilcot inquiry is likely to ask Mr Blair at what stage he promised US President George W Bush Britain would support military action against Iraq.
Some witnesses have said assurances were given in 2002 - although the then Attorney General Lord Goldsmith has told the inquiry he had warned Mr Blair that using force for regime change would be illegal.Some witnesses have said assurances were given in 2002 - although the then Attorney General Lord Goldsmith has told the inquiry he had warned Mr Blair that using force for regime change would be illegal.
Millions of British people are still asking themselves: Why did we participate in an illegal invasion of another country? Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg Tony Blair on Iraq: Key questions Send us your commentsMillions of British people are still asking themselves: Why did we participate in an illegal invasion of another country? Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg Tony Blair on Iraq: Key questions Send us your comments
Lord Goldsmith, whose legal opinion cabinet ministers and the British military depended upon before agreeing to involvement in the war, said he originally believed the United Nations had to approve the use of force and only changed his mind a month before the invasion.Lord Goldsmith, whose legal opinion cabinet ministers and the British military depended upon before agreeing to involvement in the war, said he originally believed the United Nations had to approve the use of force and only changed his mind a month before the invasion.
Mr Blair has also set up another line of questioning by saying in a recent BBC interview that he would have backed the invasion even if he had known beforehand that Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction.Mr Blair has also set up another line of questioning by saying in a recent BBC interview that he would have backed the invasion even if he had known beforehand that Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction.
'Overtly political''Overtly political'
A former head of the civil service, Lord Turnbull, told the inquiry they should question Mr Blair about this because throughout the period leading up to war, Mr Blair had been "unambiguous" that disarming Saddam of weapons of mass destruction was his primary objective.A former head of the civil service, Lord Turnbull, told the inquiry they should question Mr Blair about this because throughout the period leading up to war, Mr Blair had been "unambiguous" that disarming Saddam of weapons of mass destruction was his primary objective.
IRAQ INQUIRY TWEETS IRAQ INQUIRY TWEETS
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Onto WMD - TB again going down his 'can I just say' tactic, and answering the question that he wants to, not always the one that is asked 1 minute ago TB says he was 'broken record' trying to persuade Bush to deal with wider M East probs-but doesnt say it was a condition of support for war 31 minutes ago TB's body language speaks volumes about his attitude to Christopher Meyer, former UK ambassador to US - not a fan 43 minutes ago Blair says he agreed with Bush on 'end and means' of dealing with Saddam at Crawford - was that a promise of military action or not? 49 minutes ago Different emphasis on Crawford-Blair says he went to find out what US wanted to achieve-others said he went to persuade them to go UN route 52 minutes ago What is this? Onto WMD - TB again going down his 'can I just say' tactic, and answering the question that he wants to, not always the one that is asked 10 minutes ago TB says he was 'broken record' trying to persuade Bush to deal with wider M East probs-but doesnt say it was a condition of support for war 40 minutes ago TB's body language speaks volumes about his attitude to Christopher Meyer, former UK ambassador to US - not a fan 52 minutes ago Blair says he agreed with Bush on 'end and means' of dealing with Saddam at Crawford - was that a promise of military action or not? 59 minutes ago Different emphasis on Crawford-Blair says he went to find out what US wanted to achieve-others said he went to persuade them to go UN route About 1 hour ago What is this?
In his appearance, Mr Blair's former director of communications Alastair Campbell sought to address some of the questions around the key September 2002 dossier on the alleged threat posed by Saddam published in the run up to the war.In his appearance, Mr Blair's former director of communications Alastair Campbell sought to address some of the questions around the key September 2002 dossier on the alleged threat posed by Saddam published in the run up to the war.
The dossier included a foreword by Mr Blair in which he wrote that he believed the intelligence, which the inquiry has been told had many caveats attached, had established "beyond doubt" that Saddam Hussein had continued to produce chemical and biological weapons.The dossier included a foreword by Mr Blair in which he wrote that he believed the intelligence, which the inquiry has been told had many caveats attached, had established "beyond doubt" that Saddam Hussein had continued to produce chemical and biological weapons.
Mr Campbell, who drafted the first version of the foreword - ultimately approved by Mr Blair - said no-one in intelligence challenged this statement which, he added, never suggested Saddam Hussein "was able to do something terrible to the British mainland".Mr Campbell, who drafted the first version of the foreword - ultimately approved by Mr Blair - said no-one in intelligence challenged this statement which, he added, never suggested Saddam Hussein "was able to do something terrible to the British mainland".
This will be the third time Mr Blair has given evidence during an inquiry into the Iraq war.This will be the third time Mr Blair has given evidence during an inquiry into the Iraq war.
He previously gave evidence to the Hutton inquiry, the Butler review and the Intelligence and Security Committee investigation - although the latter two into the pre-war intelligence took place behind closed doors.He previously gave evidence to the Hutton inquiry, the Butler review and the Intelligence and Security Committee investigation - although the latter two into the pre-war intelligence took place behind closed doors.
Questions at the Hutton inquiry were restricted to events surrounding the death of government weapons scientist Dr David Kelly, rather than the political decisions behind the war.Questions at the Hutton inquiry were restricted to events surrounding the death of government weapons scientist Dr David Kelly, rather than the political decisions behind the war.