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 8 Version 9
Cabinet misled on war, says Short Cabinet misled on war, says Short
(10 minutes later)
Tony Blair's cabinet was "misled" into thinking the war with Iraq was legal, ex-International Development Secretary Clare Short has told the UK's inquiry.Tony Blair's cabinet was "misled" into thinking the war with Iraq was legal, ex-International Development Secretary Clare Short has told the UK's inquiry.
She said she was "shocked" by advice from Attorney General Lord Goldsmith, given shortly before the 2003 war. She said she was now "shocked" by the advice Attorney General Lord Goldsmith, had given them shortly before war.
Ms Short also claimed the government had put "block on communications" with her in the build-up to the invasion. Mr Blair "and his mates" decided war was necessary, and "everything was done on a wing and a prayer", she added.
Ms Short quit the cabinet two months after the invasion, protesting about the planning for the war's aftermath. She quit the cabinet two months after the March 2003 invasion, in protest at planning for the war's aftermath.
In her evidence to the Iraq inquiry, during which she was highly critical of former Prime Minister Tony Blair, she said the cabinet had not been a "decision-making body" and called Parliament a "rubber stamp".In her evidence to the Iraq inquiry, during which she was highly critical of former Prime Minister Tony Blair, she said the cabinet had not been a "decision-making body" and called Parliament a "rubber stamp".
The UK eventually went to war without achieving a second United Nations resolution authorising the move.The UK eventually went to war without achieving a second United Nations resolution authorising the move.
'Didn't come''Didn't come'
But Lord Goldsmith ruled that this did not preclude military action in a definitive statement circulated at cabinet shortly before the war began. Lord Goldsmith ruled that this did not preclude military action in a definitive statement circulated at cabinet shortly before the war began.
Ms Short said there was no suggestion that he had had any legal doubts, and said that any discussion of the legal advice was halted at that pre-war cabinet meeting.Ms Short said there was no suggestion that he had had any legal doubts, and said that any discussion of the legal advice was halted at that pre-war cabinet meeting.
In light of Lord Goldsmith's "doubts and his changes of opinion" that have since emerged, Ms Short added: "I think for the attorney general to come and say there's unequivocal legal authority to go war was misleading."In light of Lord Goldsmith's "doubts and his changes of opinion" that have since emerged, Ms Short added: "I think for the attorney general to come and say there's unequivocal legal authority to go war was misleading."
She said: "I think he misled the cabinet. He certainly misled me, but people let it through."She said: "I think he misled the cabinet. He certainly misled me, but people let it through."
Ms Short also told the inquiry that she "was seeing the intelligence" to do with Iraq during the earlier stages of preparations for a possible invasion.Ms Short also told the inquiry that she "was seeing the intelligence" to do with Iraq during the earlier stages of preparations for a possible invasion.
But, in late 2002, she added: "We asked for a briefing... This just didn't come and didn't come." Critics of the war have suggested that Lord Goldsmith changed his mind about the issue in the days before the conflict, first issuing draft advice spelling out the arguments for and against the need for a second resolution before a week later concluding that action was justified on the basis of existing resolutions.
Ms Short was also critical of the amount of intelligence made available to her Department for International Development.
11 September
She told the inquiry that, in late 2002: "We asked for a briefing... This just didn't come and didn't come."
Ms Short also said: "It became clear there was some sort of block on communications."Ms Short also said: "It became clear there was some sort of block on communications."
In the run-up to the conflict, Ms Short warned Britain should not invade without a second UN resolution.In the run-up to the conflict, Ms Short warned Britain should not invade without a second UN resolution.
She has previously said she was persuaded by then Prime Minister Tony Blair to stay in the cabinet after the war started, with a promise that her department would play a leading role in Iraq's reconstruction. She has previously said she was persuaded by Mr Blair to stay in the cabinet after the war started, with a promise that her department would play a leading role in Iraq's 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.
Mr Blair told the inquiry last week that former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein had been a "monster" who, he believed, "threatened not just the region but the world".Mr Blair told the inquiry last week that 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.
He suggested Saddam would have co-operated with groups such as al-Qaeda, had he been allowed to stay in power.He suggested Saddam would have co-operated with groups such as al-Qaeda, had he been allowed to stay in power.
'Difficult to handle''Difficult to handle'
But Ms Short told the inquiry this was "historically inaccurate", adding: "There was no evidence of any kind of an escalation of threats."But Ms Short told the inquiry this was "historically inaccurate", adding: "There was no evidence of any kind of an escalation of threats."
She also said: "We could have gone more slowly and carefully and not have had a totally destabilised and angry Iraq."She also said: "We could have gone more slowly and carefully and not have had a totally destabilised and angry Iraq."
"The American people were misled to suggest that al-Qaeda had links to Saddam Hussein.
"Everybody knows that is untrue -- that he had absolutely links, no sympathy, al Qaeda were nowhere near Iraq until after the invasion and the disorder that came from that. "
On Sunday, Ms Short told the BBC that Gordon Brown, then chancellor, had been "marginalised" in the build-up to the war and the then chancellor had neither opposed nor supported it.On Sunday, Ms Short told the BBC that Gordon Brown, then chancellor, had been "marginalised" in the build-up to the war and the then chancellor had neither opposed nor supported it.
During an earlier hearing, former head of the armed forces Lord Boyce suggested officials from Ms Short's department had refused to co-operate fully in the immediate aftermath of the invasion because of their opposition to the war.During an earlier hearing, former head of the armed forces Lord Boyce suggested officials from Ms Short's department had 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 invasion 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 invasion 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.
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.