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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Straw relaxed on open Iraq probe | Straw relaxed on open Iraq probe |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Justice Secretary Jack Straw has said he has "no problem" giving evidence to the Iraq war inquiry in public. | Justice Secretary Jack Straw has said he has "no problem" giving evidence to the Iraq war inquiry in public. |
| Mr Straw, foreign secretary during the 2003 invasion, said he believed then-Prime Minster Tony Blair would also be ready to testify in an open hearing. | Mr Straw, foreign secretary during the 2003 invasion, said he believed then-Prime Minster Tony Blair would also be ready to testify in an open hearing. |
| The government has been criticised for its decision to conduct the inquiry, which begins in July, in private. | The government has been criticised for its decision to conduct the inquiry, which begins in July, in private. |
| Downing Street and Mr Blair's spokesman dismissed claims it was prompted by pressure from the ex-prime minister. | Downing Street and Mr Blair's spokesman dismissed claims it was prompted by pressure from the ex-prime minister. |
| 'Grand cover-up' | 'Grand cover-up' |
| Mr Straw told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show that Sir John Chilcot - who will lead the inquiry - had indicated that it would be "mixed" between public and private sessions. | Mr Straw told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show that Sir John Chilcot - who will lead the inquiry - had indicated that it would be "mixed" between public and private sessions. |
| The justice secretary said he would be prepared to testify publicly on matters that did not relate to sensitive intelligence or that put the lives of British forces at risk. | The justice secretary said he would be prepared to testify publicly on matters that did not relate to sensitive intelligence or that put the lives of British forces at risk. |
| Mr Straw said: "As foreign secretary at the time I have no problem with giving most of the evidence I have got to give in public. | Mr Straw said: "As foreign secretary at the time I have no problem with giving most of the evidence I have got to give in public. |
| "In fairness to Tony, he has given the equivalent of evidence in public scores and scores of time. | "In fairness to Tony, he has given the equivalent of evidence in public scores and scores of time. |
| "I'm completely comfortable giving most of my evidence in public and I'm sure he is." | "I'm completely comfortable giving most of my evidence in public and I'm sure he is." |
| He added that the government had set up the probe along the lines of the Franks inquiry into the Falklands war in response to calls from the Conservatives. | He added that the government had set up the probe along the lines of the Franks inquiry into the Falklands war in response to calls from the Conservatives. |
| Nick Clegg: "The prime architect of the war (Tony Blair)... should give evidence in public" | Nick Clegg: "The prime architect of the war (Tony Blair)... should give evidence in public" |
| But BBC political correspondent Vicky Young said pressure was building for the probe to be conducted publicly. | But BBC political correspondent Vicky Young said pressure was building for the probe to be conducted publicly. |
| Transport Minister Sadiq Khan told the BBC's Politics Show that he suspected "many, many parts" of the inquiry would be conducted in public. | |
| Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Theresa May said the apparent turnaround by ministers was "amazing". | |
| She added: "If it's a government u-turn and the inquiry is now going to be held in public then I welcome that." | |
| The Observer newspaper says Mr Blair urged Gordon Brown not to hold a public inquiry because he feared being subjected to a "show trial". | The Observer newspaper says Mr Blair urged Gordon Brown not to hold a public inquiry because he feared being subjected to a "show trial". |
| Before the inquiry was announced Mr Blair - who took Britain into the war in 2003 - is said by the paper to have put pressure on the prime minister via the Cabinet Secretary, Sir Gus O'Donnell. | Before the inquiry was announced Mr Blair - who took Britain into the war in 2003 - is said by the paper to have put pressure on the prime minister via the Cabinet Secretary, Sir Gus O'Donnell. |
| The paper alleges Mr Blair did not want to give evidence in public, and under oath, about the use of intelligence and secret discussions held with ex-US president George W Bush during the run-up to the conflict. | The paper alleges Mr Blair did not want to give evidence in public, and under oath, about the use of intelligence and secret discussions held with ex-US president George W Bush during the run-up to the conflict. |
| Responding to the claims, a spokesman for Mr Blair said: "This is a decision for the current prime minister, not the former one." | Responding to the claims, a spokesman for Mr Blair said: "This is a decision for the current prime minister, not the former one." |
| A Downing Street spokesman said the report was "just plain wrong". | A Downing Street spokesman said the report was "just plain wrong". |
| He added: "We have always been clear that we consulted a number of people before announcing the commencement of the inquiry, including former government figures. | He added: "We have always been clear that we consulted a number of people before announcing the commencement of the inquiry, including former government figures. |
| "We are not going to get into the nature of those discussions." | "We are not going to get into the nature of those discussions." |
| But Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show that it appeared Mr Brown had been "dictated to by his predecessor". | But Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show that it appeared Mr Brown had been "dictated to by his predecessor". |
| Mr Clegg added: "If the inquiry is to have any legitimacy, the prime architect of the decision to go to war in Iraq alongside George Bush should give his evidence in public under oath. | Mr Clegg added: "If the inquiry is to have any legitimacy, the prime architect of the decision to go to war in Iraq alongside George Bush should give his evidence in public under oath. |
| "I think anything less will make people feel this is just a grand cover-up for, after all, what was the biggest foreign policy mistake this country has made since Suez." | "I think anything less will make people feel this is just a grand cover-up for, after all, what was the biggest foreign policy mistake this country has made since Suez." |
| Widespread criticism | |
| The inquiry will start next month and aims to indentify "lessons learned". | The inquiry will start next month and aims to indentify "lessons learned". |
| When he announced it on Monday, the prime minister said the inquiry would hear evidence in private so witnesses could be "as candid as possible". | |
| But following widespread criticism Mr Brown later appeared to backtrack, saying it would be up to Sir John to decide which session of the inquiry could be held in public. | But following widespread criticism Mr Brown later appeared to backtrack, saying it would be up to Sir John to decide which session of the inquiry could be held in public. |
| On Wednesday the prime minister is due to face a Commons vote on a Conservative motion that evidence given to the Iraq inquiry should be heard in public "whenever possible". | On Wednesday the prime minister is due to face a Commons vote on a Conservative motion that evidence given to the Iraq inquiry should be heard in public "whenever possible". |