This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6740067.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Brown on 'fact-finding' Iraq trip Brown pledge on intelligence use
(about 2 hours later)
The UK's prime minister-in-waiting, Gordon Brown, has been in Baghdad for what he called a "fact-finding" visit. Gordon Brown has said lessons must be learned on use of intelligence in the run-up to war, but ruled out holding an inquiry while troops remain in Iraq.
It is a second trip to Iraq for the chancellor, who is due to succeed Tony Blair as prime minister on 27 June. The prime minister-in-waiting said that in future intelligence analysis must be kept independent of politics.
Mr Brown had talks with Iraq PM Nouri Maliki and met military commanders and British troops, amid tight security. The Tories and Lib Dems said it was an admission that intelligence was not properly handled or presented on Iraq.
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, who succeeds Tony Blair on 27 June, was speaking as he made a one day "fact-finding" trip to Iraq.
Baghdad's heavily guarded Green Zone came under mortar attack shortly before Mr Brown left the city. Mr Brown had talks with Iraq PM Nouri Maliki on political and economic reconstruction, and met military commanders and British troops, amid tight security.
Inquiry callInquiry call
"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?," he said. 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".
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". The tight security for the visit appeared to be justified as a series of mortars struck the international zone in Baghdad while Mr Brown has there, although none of the entourage was injured.
Mr Brown also met 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's visit came as MPs in London debated Conservative calls for an inquiry into the Iraq war.
I think it's important to learn all the lessons Gordon Brown Analysis: Inquiry callsI think it's important to learn all the lessons Gordon Brown Analysis: Inquiry calls
The visit came 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 said he did not back an inquiry being held while troops remained in Iraq, but agreed lessons had to be learned.
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.
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 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.
'Divisive' issue
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.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.
The key change would be that the Joint Intelligence Committee chairman would not be the same person as the Cabinet Office security co-ordinator. Both posts are currently held by Sir Richard Mottram, who will retire soon. 'Dodgy dossier'
It's intriguing that we've been asked to keep this trip such a secret BBC political editor Nick Robinson class="" href="http://www0.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2007/06/brown_in_baghda.html">Read Nick's thoughts in full The key change would be that the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) chairman would not be the same person as the Cabinet Office security co-ordinator. Both posts are currently held by Sir Richard Mottram, who will retire soon.
"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," Mr Brown said."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," Mr Brown said.
Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said Mr Brown was "distancing himself from Mr Blair". But it led some to comment that the chancellor appeared to be trying to distance himself from Mr Blair and the government's 2002 dossier on Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction.
And shadow foreign secretary William Hague added: "I think it is a bit of an admission that that intelligence was not properly handled or presented at that time [in the run-up to war]... so it does need change and I think we will all be very sympathetic to that, but he needs to go a lot further." It's intriguing that we've been asked to keep this trip such a secret BBC political editor Nick Robinson class="" href="http://www0.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2007/06/brown_in_baghda.html">Read Nick's thoughts in full
That was the dossier which included the now discredited claim that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction which could be used within 45 minutes of an order being given.
Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said: "This is the first public admission by a member of the Cabinet that, before military action was taken against Iraq, there was undue influence, undue political influence, on intelligence."
And shadow foreign secretary William Hague added: "I think it is a bit of an admission that intelligence wasn't properly handled or presented at that time."
The Butler report into the accuracy of intelligence about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction found much was unreliable, but said the inquiry had seen no evidence of deliberate distortion.
'Very divisive'
Former Joint Intelligence Committee chairman Sir Paul Lever told the BBC Mr Brown's announcement was "very welcome".
"It clearly is an attempt by the next prime minister to put some distance between himself and the way in which the so-called 'dodgy dossier' and other documents were produced to justify the decision to go to war in Iraq," he said.
"It is vitally important that those people who prepare intelligence and assess intelligence are able to do their work independently and objectively."
Troop withdrawal
Mr Brown has acknowledged that Iraq was a "very divisive" issue, but he has stuck by the decision to go to war.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 UK troops in Iraq - due to be reduced to 5,500 by mid-summer, but praised the "tremendous dedication and duty" of those he met.On Monday he refused to put any timescale on withdrawing the remaining UK troops in Iraq - due to be reduced to 5,500 by mid-summer, 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.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.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.