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Iraq War report: Blair insists he is not to blame for delays Iraq War report: Publication 'far better' for me says Blair
(about 2 hours later)
Tony Blair has rejected suggestions he is behind the delay to the Iraq Inquiry report, saying such claims are incorrect and "politically motivated". Tony Blair has rejected suggestions he is behind the delay to the Iraq Inquiry report, saying it would be "far better" for him if it was published.
The former Labour prime minister said he regretted the fact the report would not be released before May's election. The former Labour prime minister told the BBC that publication would enable him to restate his case that the 2003 invasion was the "right thing to do".
Inquiry chairman Sir John Chilcot said he could see "no realistic prospect" of publication before the 7 May vote. He said he would be happy for his notes to President Bush to be made public.
MPs have reacted angrily to the news, while David Cameron has said the inquiry should have started earlier. Inquiry chairman Sir John Chilcot says there is "no realistic prospect" of publication before May's election.
The prime minister said the delay was "extremely frustrating", while Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said it was "incomprehensible". MPs have reacted angrily to the news while David Cameron has said the inquiry should have started earlier.
In a statement, Mr Blair, who took Britain to war in Iraq in 2003, said he had "repeatedly" made clear that he was not responsible for hold-ups to the inquiry, which began its work in 2009. In a statement, Mr Blair, who took Britain to war in Iraq in 2003, said he had "repeatedly" made clear that he was not responsible for hold-ups to the inquiry and suggestions to the contrary were "incorrect and politically motivated".
"Sir John's letter makes reference to notes and records concerning Mr Blair, which some may interpret as an implicit suggestion that Mr Blair caused the delay. This is not true," his office said. Speaking to the BBC's business editor Kamal Ahmed in Davos, where he is attending the World Economic Forum, Mr Blair said those blaming him were "completely wrong" and there was nothing preventing the inquiry getting on with writing the report.
"On the contrary, he regrets this delay in its publication. Incorrect allegations and politically motivated speculation do nothing to shine a light on the issues involved. It is an independent inquiry and it should be allowed to proceed with its work." "Never mind the election, I am frustrated it has not been published some time ago," he said.
"For people like myself, when this inquiry finally comes out, it gives me also frankly an opportunity to go out and say 'this is why I did what I did and this is why I believe it was the right thing to do'.
"For me, not to have this report published has been a problem over these last years. It would be far better if it was."
Mr Blair said there were "clear lessons" to be learnt from the inquiry and he believed the report would be more relevant if it could refer to all his correspondence with President Bush.
"What I've said is this: if you're going to decide to publish, then publish them properly - not a gist of the letters. Now there are issues about confidential correspondence between a president and prime minister but when the decision was taken to at least make public the gist of them my actual recommendation was publish it and let people see."
'Long enough''Long enough'
Mr Blair. who gave evidence twice to the Chilcot inquiry, has always insisted he wants the report to come out so he could restate his case for taking action against Saddam Hussein.
In a letter to Prime Minister David Cameron, Sir John said "very substantial progress" had been made since his last update, but said the process of allowing people criticised to respond was still taking place.In a letter to Prime Minister David Cameron, Sir John said "very substantial progress" had been made since his last update, but said the process of allowing people criticised to respond was still taking place.
He could give "no accurate estimate" of a completion date but that it would take "some further months".He could give "no accurate estimate" of a completion date but that it would take "some further months".
AnalysisAnalysis
Nick Robinson, BBC political editorNick Robinson, BBC political editor
Delayed again. Until after the election. Very suspicious say those who fear a cover up of the decisions taken by Tony Blair's government which led the UK to join George W Bush's invasion of Iraq.Delayed again. Until after the election. Very suspicious say those who fear a cover up of the decisions taken by Tony Blair's government which led the UK to join George W Bush's invasion of Iraq.
Nick Clegg - whose Liberal Democrat party opposed the war in the face of combined Labour and Conservative support for it - says that some will fear that the report of the Iraq Inquiry is being "sexed down".Nick Clegg - whose Liberal Democrat party opposed the war in the face of combined Labour and Conservative support for it - says that some will fear that the report of the Iraq Inquiry is being "sexed down".
Few if any of those facing criticism in the report will speak publicly but I've been speaking to those familiar with what's going on behind the scenes.Few if any of those facing criticism in the report will speak publicly but I've been speaking to those familiar with what's going on behind the scenes.
Read more from NickRead more from Nick
In his response, Mr Cameron said he would have liked the report to have been published already and criticised the previous government for not establishing it earlier.In his response, Mr Cameron said he would have liked the report to have been published already and criticised the previous government for not establishing it earlier.
The inquiry began its work in 2009 and held its last public hearing in 2011.The inquiry began its work in 2009 and held its last public hearing in 2011.
It has been looking into the reasons for the UK's involvement in the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein and the aftermath of the conflict, which saw UK troops remain in Iraq until 2009.It has been looking into the reasons for the UK's involvement in the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein and the aftermath of the conflict, which saw UK troops remain in Iraq until 2009.
During Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons, Mr Cameron said it was "extremely frustrating" that the report had not yet been published, but it would not be right for him to interfere with the independent inquiry.During Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons, Mr Cameron said it was "extremely frustrating" that the report had not yet been published, but it would not be right for him to interfere with the independent inquiry.
He believed there was "no mystery" in the reasons for the delay and attacked Labour leader Ed Miliband, who he said had opposed the establishment of an inquiry when the idea had been previously put forward by the Conservatives.He believed there was "no mystery" in the reasons for the delay and attacked Labour leader Ed Miliband, who he said had opposed the establishment of an inquiry when the idea had been previously put forward by the Conservatives.
Mr Miliband said the inquiry had been established six years ago, after combat operations ended, adding: "My views on Iraq are well known, and I want to see the inquiry published."Mr Miliband said the inquiry had been established six years ago, after combat operations ended, adding: "My views on Iraq are well known, and I want to see the inquiry published."
'In our name''In our name'
Mr Clegg said the public would assume the delay was caused by those criticised in the report attempting to "sex it down".Mr Clegg said the public would assume the delay was caused by those criticised in the report attempting to "sex it down".
"The public have waited long enough and will find it incomprehensible that the report is not being published more rapidly than the open-ended timetable you have now set out," he said."The public have waited long enough and will find it incomprehensible that the report is not being published more rapidly than the open-ended timetable you have now set out," he said.
Although the inquiry has never publicly set a deadline for publication, it has been plagued by delays with lengthy wrangling over what documents can be included in the final report.Although the inquiry has never publicly set a deadline for publication, it has been plagued by delays with lengthy wrangling over what documents can be included in the final report.
The inquiry reached an agreement last summer with the UK government in which it would be allowed to refer to the "gist" of conversations and private correspondence between former Prime Minister Tony Blair and former US President George W Bush. The inquiry reached an agreement last summer with the UK government in which it would be allowed to refer to the "gist" of conversations and private correspondence between former Prime Minister Tony Blair and US President George W Bush.
The Iraq WarThe Iraq War
Conservative former Attorney General Dominic Grieve told BBC News Sir John should explain the "sequencing" of the process to reassure MPs and the public.Conservative former Attorney General Dominic Grieve told BBC News Sir John should explain the "sequencing" of the process to reassure MPs and the public.
SNP deputy leader Stewart Hosie said he was "deeply frustrated and incredibly disappointed" by the delay, while UKIP deputy chairwoman Suzanne Evans said it "reeks of a joint establishment cover-up".SNP deputy leader Stewart Hosie said he was "deeply frustrated and incredibly disappointed" by the delay, while UKIP deputy chairwoman Suzanne Evans said it "reeks of a joint establishment cover-up".
She added: "This was a war that was waged in our name, using our money, and we deserve to know the answers."She added: "This was a war that was waged in our name, using our money, and we deserve to know the answers."
Rose Gentle, whose soldier son Gordon was killed in Iraq in 2004, said families were "really frustrated" at the drawn-out process.Rose Gentle, whose soldier son Gordon was killed in Iraq in 2004, said families were "really frustrated" at the drawn-out process.
She added: "We just feel constantly let down. We can't get over something like this until we find out."She added: "We just feel constantly let down. We can't get over something like this until we find out."
MPs are due to debate the fate of the Iraq report next week while the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee has asked Sir John to answer questions about the progress of the inquiry.MPs are due to debate the fate of the Iraq report next week while the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee has asked Sir John to answer questions about the progress of the inquiry.