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Minister 'attacks Iraq mistake' | Minister 'attacks Iraq mistake' |
(40 minutes later) | |
Minister Margaret Hodge is reported to have called the Iraq war Tony Blair's "big mistake in foreign affairs". | Minister Margaret Hodge is reported to have called the Iraq war Tony Blair's "big mistake in foreign affairs". |
She said she had had doubts about Mr Blair's attitude to foreign affairs as back as 1998, according to The Islington Tribune. | She said she had had doubts about Mr Blair's attitude to foreign affairs as back as 1998, according to The Islington Tribune. |
The industry minister also criticised Mr Blair's "moral imperialism", the newspaper adds. | The industry minister also criticised Mr Blair's "moral imperialism", the newspaper adds. |
Mrs Hodge is said to have denied the comments, which the paper says she made at a private dinner in North London. | Mrs Hodge is said to have denied the comments, which the paper says she made at a private dinner in North London. |
Replying to a question from a guest at the Fabian Society event - that she had accepted Mr Blair's arguments about the supposed dangers posed by Iraq because "he was our leader and I trusted him," the paper writes. | Replying to a question from a guest at the Fabian Society event - that she had accepted Mr Blair's arguments about the supposed dangers posed by Iraq because "he was our leader and I trusted him," the paper writes. |
After she had criticised the prime minister she said: "I hope this isn't going to be reported." | After she had criticised the prime minister she said: "I hope this isn't going to be reported." |
BBC political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said, if true, the remarks would be "the most inflammatory remarks made by a member of the government about Tony Blair's policy to date". | |
Mr Blair, who saw off a cross-party bid to force an immediate inquiry into the war earlier this month, has said he will not rule one out, once British troops have come home. |