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Brown on 'fact-finding' Iraq trip Brown on 'fact-finding' Iraq trip
(about 1 hour later)
The UK's prime minister-in-waiting, Gordon Brown, is in Baghdad for what he describes as a "fact-finding" visit. The UK's prime minister-in-waiting, Gordon Brown, has been in Baghdad for what he called a "fact-finding" visit.
It is a second visit to Iraq for the chancellor, who is due to succeed Tony Blair as prime minister on 27 June. It is a second trip to Iraq for the chancellor, who is due to succeed Tony Blair as prime minister on 27 June.
Mr Brown was having talks with Iraq PM Nouri Maliki during the visit which is taking place amid tight security. Mr Brown had talks with Iraq PM Nouri Maliki and met military commanders and British troops, amid tight security.
He told reporters, who were barred from reporting the visit in advance, that it was "very much an assessment more than anything else, a fact-finding trip".He told reporters, who were barred from reporting the visit in advance, that it was "very much an assessment more than anything else, a fact-finding trip".
Mr Brown said he wanted to discuss political and economic reconciliation in Iraq, saying that only 25% of money allocated was being spent, because of delays "at the centre and at provincial level".
Inquiry callInquiry call
He said he wanted to hear suggestions about how to improve that record. After meeting Mr Maliki he said: "I think the issue in Iraq is this - how can we help the Iraqi people not only run their own security and build a democracy but offer a prosperity they are perfectly capable of doing?"
"On political reconciliation I want to know how they are going to move forward, and on the economy I want to know that things can move forward, and if I don't have suggestions from them I will put suggestions to them," he said. One of the issues he was looking at was the fact that only 25% of money allocated to Iraq was spent because of delays "at the centre and at provincial level".
Mr Brown will also meet senior British officer, Lt General Graham Lamb for talks, along with US Ambassador Ryan Crocker and General David Petraeus US commander of the multi-national force. Mr Brown was also meeting senior British officer, Lt General Graham Lamb for talks, along with US Ambassador Ryan Crocker and General David Petraeus, US commander of the multi-national force.
I think it's important to learn all the lessons Gordon Brown
The visit comes as MPs in the House of Commons in London prepare to debate Conservative calls for an inquiry into the Iraq war and lessons to be learned.The visit comes as MPs in the House of Commons in London prepare to debate Conservative calls for an inquiry into the Iraq war and lessons to be learned.
The chancellor was accompanied on his visit by Defence Secretary Des Browne. The chancellor, accompanied on his visit by Defence Secretary Des Browne, said he did not back an inquiry being held while troops remained in Iraq but agreed lessons had to be learned.
BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson, also travelling with Mr Brown, said the chancellor was expected later to make clear how the government must learn lessons from the use of intelligence in the build-up to the Iraq war. He said that in future all intelligence information must be independent of the political process, and that it must be validated and verified if made public.
He is expected to say that in future all security information must be independent of the political process, and that it must be validated and verified if made public. 'Divisive' issue
Mr Brown has acknowledged that Iraq was a "very divisive" issue, but he has stuck by the decision to go to war and has not put a timescale on when he expects British involvement to end. He said he had asked Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell to look at how to ensure that independence and said he wants Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee to have a bigger role.
"I think it's important to learn all the lessons, just as Tony Blair has said he acted in good faith but mistakes were made. I think it's important to learn the lessons to look forward now," he said.
Mr Brown has acknowledged that Iraq was a "very divisive" issue, but he has stuck by the decision to go to war.
On Monday he refused to put any timescale on withdrawing the remaining 5,500 UK troops in Iraq but praised the "tremendous dedication and duty" of those he met.
Also on Monday it was announced that the tax free operational allowance for troops deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan is to be increased by 3.6% to £12.75 a day, backdated to April.
Defence chiefs say that because of the "increased stabilisation of the Balkans" personnel serving there will no longer qualify for the allowance, introduced last October, from 1 September.