This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8492526.stm
The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Iraq critic Short to argue case | Iraq critic Short to argue case |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Clare Short, one of the most vocal critics of the Iraq war, is set to give evidence to the Chilcot inquiry. | |
| The former international development secretary resigned from the cabinet two months after the March 2003 invasion in protest at its aftermath. | The former international development secretary resigned from the cabinet two months after the March 2003 invasion in protest at its aftermath. |
| She has criticised the basis for going to war and claimed there was no serious discussion of the issue in cabinet. | She has criticised the basis for going to war and claimed there was no serious discussion of the issue in cabinet. |
| Ms Short has faced criticism of her own conduct during the inquiry from a number of senior military officers. | Ms Short has faced criticism of her own conduct during the inquiry from a number of senior military officers. |
| Persuaded to stay | Persuaded to stay |
| Former head of the armed forces, Lord Boyce, suggested officials from Ms Short's department refused to co-operate fully in the immediate aftermath of the invasion because of their opposition to the war. | Former head of the armed forces, Lord Boyce, suggested officials from Ms Short's department refused to co-operate fully in the immediate aftermath of the invasion because of their opposition to the war. |
| Mr Blair's former spokesman, Alastair Campbell, told the inquiry that Ms Short had been "difficult to handle" in the run-up to the war and suggested there was a fear she might leak things she did not agree with. | Mr Blair's former spokesman, Alastair Campbell, told the inquiry that Ms Short had been "difficult to handle" in the run-up to the war and suggested there was a fear she might leak things she did not agree with. |
| But, in his evidence, former Cabinet Secretary Lord Turnbull said such criticism was unfair and Ms Short and other more independent voices in cabinet had been effectively sidelined. | But, in his evidence, former Cabinet Secretary Lord Turnbull said such criticism was unfair and Ms Short and other more independent voices in cabinet had been effectively sidelined. |
| In the run-up to the war, Ms Short had repeatedly said Britain should not invade without a second UN resolution. | In the run-up to the war, Ms Short had repeatedly said Britain should not invade without a second UN resolution. |
| She has previously said she was persuaded by Mr Blair to stay in the cabinet after the invasion, with a promise that her department would play a leading role in post-war reconstruction. | She has previously said she was persuaded by Mr Blair to stay in the cabinet after the invasion, with a promise that her department would play a leading role in post-war reconstruction. |
| Ms Short, who now sits in the Commons as an independent MP, eventually quit the government over the lack of UN involvement in the reconstruction effort. | Ms Short, who now sits in the Commons as an independent MP, eventually quit the government over the lack of UN involvement in the reconstruction effort. |
| Giving evidence on Friday, Mr Blair said former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein had been a "monster" who he believed "threatened not just the region but the world". | Giving evidence on Friday, Mr Blair said former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein had been a "monster" who he believed "threatened not just the region but the world". |
| He said British and US attitudes towards the threat posed by Iraq "changed dramatically" after the terror attacks on 11 September 2001 since they highlighted the dangers of links between failed states in possession of weapons of mass destruction and terrorist groups. | He said British and US attitudes towards the threat posed by Iraq "changed dramatically" after the terror attacks on 11 September 2001 since they highlighted the dangers of links between failed states in possession of weapons of mass destruction and terrorist groups. |
| Ms Short has said it is "ludicrous" to suggest that Saddam Hussein would have co-operated with groups such as al-Qaeda. | Ms Short has said it is "ludicrous" to suggest that Saddam Hussein would have co-operated with groups such as al-Qaeda. |
| She has also claimed Gordon Brown was "marginalised" in the build-up to the Iraq War and the then chancellor neither opposed nor supported it. | She has also claimed Gordon Brown was "marginalised" in the build-up to the Iraq War and the then chancellor neither opposed nor supported it. |
| Hilary Benn, who succeeded Ms Short as international development secretary, will also give evidence on Tuesday. | Hilary Benn, who succeeded Ms Short as international development secretary, will also give evidence on Tuesday. |