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Iraq war was 'right', says Brown Iraq war was 'right', says Brown
(20 minutes later)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has begun giving evidence to the Iraq inquiry by saying the 2003 war was "right". Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said the 2003 war was "right", as he gives evidence to the UK's Iraq inquiry.
"I believe we made the right decisions for the right reasons," Mr Brown told the UK inquiry's panel. "I believe we made the right decisions for the right reasons," Mr Brown told the inquiry hearing in London.
But he said there were "lessons to learn" about decision making, international cooperation and how to build a "just peace" after wars.But he said there were "lessons to learn" about decision making, international cooperation and how to build a "just peace" after wars.
He paid tribute to the servicemen and women killed in the conflict. He is expected to be quizzed for four hours.He paid tribute to the servicemen and women killed in the conflict. He is expected to be quizzed for four hours.
Mr Brown, who was chancellor at the time of the war, is giving evidence weeks ahead of the UK general election, which is expected to be held in early May.Mr Brown, who was chancellor at the time of the war, is giving evidence weeks ahead of the UK general election, which is expected to be held in early May.
'Diplomatic route''Diplomatic route'
The session began with him being asked if he thought the decision to go to war had been the right one.The session began with him being asked if he thought the decision to go to war had been the right one.
He said: "I was given information by the intelligence services which led me to believe that Iraq was a threat that had to be dealt with by the actions of the international community." He replied that he thought it was, adding: "I was given information by the intelligence services which led me to believe that Iraq was a threat that had to be dealt with by the actions of the international community."
THE STORY SO FAR He may have been writing the cheques as chancellor, but Gordon Brown remained largely silent in the run-up to the 2003 Iraq warHe was thought by some to be sceptical about it. Others thought he was hedging his bets ahead of a leadership bidAfter becoming PM, he set up the Iraq inquiry to "learn lessons" from the war, although he originally wanted it held in secret and the timing ensured it would not report until after the electionEx-military leaders have given evidence at the inquiry suggesting Mr Brown kept defence spending tight during his 10 years at the Treasury with some suggesting this had a knock-on effect on forces' kitMr Brown has denied this and will want to counter any impression, as put by David Cameron, that he did not see the military as a priority until he was PM and it became politically convenient LIVE: Video and text commentary Q&A: Iraq war inquiry Iraq inquiry: Day-by-day timeline
But he said "what we wanted was a diplomatic route to succeed" and that was his hope "right up until the last weekend" before the invasion.But he said "what we wanted was a diplomatic route to succeed" and that was his hope "right up until the last weekend" before the invasion.
He also revealed that he had spoken privately to Mr Blair about Iraq from early 2002, in addition to discussions about it in cabinet.He also revealed that he had spoken privately to Mr Blair about Iraq from early 2002, in addition to discussions about it in cabinet.
THE STORY SO FAR He may have been writing the cheques as chancellor, but Gordon Brown remained largely silent in the run-up to the 2003 Iraq warHe was thought by some to be sceptical about it. Others thought he was hedging his bets ahead of a leadership bidAfter becoming PM, he set up the Iraq inquiry to "learn lessons" from the war, although he originally wanted it held in secret and the timing ensured it would not report until after the electionEx-military leaders have given evidence at the inquiry suggesting Mr Brown kept defence spending tight during his 10 years at the Treasury with some suggesting this had a knock-on effect on forces' kitMr Brown has denied this and will want to counter any impression, as put by David Cameron, that he did not see the military as a priority until he was PM and it became politically convenient class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8551049.stm">LIVE: Video and text commentary class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7312757.stm">Q&A: Iraq war inquiry class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8378559.stm">Iraq inquiry: Day-by-day timeline He said he had assured Mr Blair in the summer of 2002 that he would not rule out military options "on the ground of cost".
"I said immediately to the prime minister... there should be no sense that there was any financial restraint that prevented us from doing what was best for the military," he told the inquiry.
He also said the cabinet was kept fully informed about efforts to get a "diplomatic solution" to prevent war.
Post-war reconstruction was also discussed in cabinet, he told the inquiry, including involving international bodies such as the IMF, but he added: "I wish that it had been possible to follow that through more fully in the days after the battle."
Ballot
Unlike Tony Blair when he appeared in January, Mr Brown entered the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, where the inquiry is being held, by the front entrance.
Only a small knot of protesters had gathered to mark his arrival.
As then-chancellor, inquiry witnesses have said Mr Brown played a key role in the run up to war and its aftermath. It has also been claimed he cut defence funding after the 2003 invasion.As then-chancellor, inquiry witnesses have said Mr Brown played a key role in the run up to war and its aftermath. It has also been claimed he cut defence funding after the 2003 invasion.
The prime minister said recently Iraq's disregard for UN resolutions - not its weapons of mass destruction - was the main reason he backed the war.
The inquiry is examining events from 2001 to 2009, including the decision to go to war, whether troops were properly prepared, the conflict and what planning there was for its aftermath.The inquiry is examining events from 2001 to 2009, including the decision to go to war, whether troops were properly prepared, the conflict and what planning there was for its aftermath.
A ballot was held to allocate seats at Mr Brown's appearance, as happened with Mr Blair's evidence session in January. The prime minister said recently Iraq's disregard for UN resolutions - not its weapons of mass destruction - was the main reason he backed the war.
Originally the prime minister had been due to give evidence in public after the general election - widely expected to be held on 6 May - but it was moved forward amid some political pressure.Originally the prime minister had been due to give evidence in public after the general election - widely expected to be held on 6 May - but it was moved forward amid some political pressure.
Mr Brown has said he is happy to give evidence early as he did not want people to think there were any "unanswered questions".Mr Brown has said he is happy to give evidence early as he did not want people to think there were any "unanswered questions".
The Times reported on Thursday that some families of soldiers who were killed in Iraq had urged the inquiry to challenge Mr Brown over funding for armed forces equipment - particularly the use of Snatch Land Rovers.The Times reported on Thursday that some families of soldiers who were killed in Iraq had urged the inquiry to challenge Mr Brown over funding for armed forces equipment - particularly the use of Snatch Land Rovers.
On Friday, in the same newspaper, former Chief of the Defence Staff Lord Guthrie accused Mr Brown of costing soldiers' lives by failing to fund the Army properly when he was chancellor.On Friday, in the same newspaper, former Chief of the Defence Staff Lord Guthrie accused Mr Brown of costing soldiers' lives by failing to fund the Army properly when he was chancellor.
"Not fully funding the Army in the way they had asked... undoubtedly cost the lives of soldiers," he told The Times."Not fully funding the Army in the way they had asked... undoubtedly cost the lives of soldiers," he told The Times.
"He should be asked why he was so unsympathetic towards defence and so sympathetic to other departments."
The prime minister is expected to have a private meeting with family members of some of those killed in the conflict at some point during the day.The prime minister is expected to have a private meeting with family members of some of those killed in the conflict at some point during the day.
In previous evidence sessions former defence secretary Geoff Hoon said Mr Brown had been a key figure in the decisions that led to war.In previous evidence sessions former defence secretary Geoff Hoon said Mr Brown had been a key figure in the decisions that led to war.
WMD threatWMD threat
And the PM is likely to be asked about claims made to the inquiry by Sir Kevin Tebbit, former top civil servant at the Ministry of Defence, that, as chancellor, Mr Brown "guillotined" military spending six months after the invasion.And the PM is likely to be asked about claims made to the inquiry by Sir Kevin Tebbit, former top civil servant at the Ministry of Defence, that, as chancellor, Mr Brown "guillotined" military spending six months after the invasion.
Mr Brown has said defence spending increased to meet the challenge of the Iraq campaign.Mr Brown has said defence spending increased to meet the challenge of the Iraq campaign.
Only one family who lost a relative in Iraq has applied for seats at Mr Brown's hearing - 40 seats were reserved for families over the course of Mr Blair's day-long session.Only one family who lost a relative in Iraq has applied for seats at Mr Brown's hearing - 40 seats were reserved for families over the course of Mr Blair's day-long session.
3 Feb 2010: Sir Kevin Tebbit said Gordon Brown 'guillotined' MoD funding3 Feb 2010: Sir Kevin Tebbit said Gordon Brown 'guillotined' MoD funding
Last month Mr Brown told Tribune magazine the threat of weapons of mass destruction had not been the main reason he backed the war - it was Iraq's disregard for UN resolutions which had "put at risk" global security.Last month Mr Brown told Tribune magazine the threat of weapons of mass destruction had not been the main reason he backed the war - it was Iraq's disregard for UN resolutions which had "put at risk" global security.
He added that he wanted "my opportunity to explain what I tried to do".He added that he wanted "my opportunity to explain what I tried to do".
But the Liberal Democrats, who as a party opposed the Iraq war, dismissed Mr Brown's comments as a "shaky attempt to rewrite history".But the Liberal Democrats, who as a party opposed the Iraq war, dismissed Mr Brown's comments as a "shaky attempt to rewrite history".
Former prime minister Tony Blair gave evidence to the inquiry in January.Former prime minister Tony Blair gave evidence to the inquiry in January.
He said he had "no regrets" about removing Saddam Hussein from power and insisted the Iraq war had made the world a safer place.He said he had "no regrets" about removing Saddam Hussein from power and insisted the Iraq war had made the world a safer place.
Are you watching the inquiry? What is your reaction?Are you watching the inquiry? What is your reaction?
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