Brown to face Iraq inquiry before election
Updated on 22 January 2010
Prime Minister Gordon Brown will give evidence to the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq war before the general election.
Sir John Chilcot, the chairman of the inquiry, had written to the prime minister last night to say his team was "happy" for him to be grilled on his role in the war before the poll, which must be held before 3 June.
The prime minister then replied this morning offering to appear as a witness next month or in March.
Mr Brown wrote: "You have proposed a range of dates in the next two months.
"I will be happy to agree a date which is to the convenience of the inquiry."
Read
the letters between Gordon Brown and Sir John Chilcot
- Letter from Gordon Brown to Sir John Chilcot, 19 Jan 2010
- Letter from Sir John Chilcot to Gordon Brown, 21 Jan 2010
- Letter from Gordon Brown to Sir John Chilcot, 22 Jan 2010
- Blog: Brown appearance overshadows Treasury evidence
- Sir
John Chilcot's statement in full
Sir John had previously ruled that Mr Brown's evidence should be given after the election to avoid party politics.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband and International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander may also be called to give evidence earlier than previously planned.
There has been mounting pressure for the prime minister to give evidence before the election, particularly following accusations that as chancellor he failed to fund the armed forces properly before and during the invasion.
Mr Brown publicly insisted he has "nothing to hide" and told MPs this week: "I have written to Sir John Chilcot and I have said to him that I am happy to give evidence at any time.
"That is a matter for the committee to decide, but I will take whatever advice he gives me about when he wishes me to appear."
Former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said Mr Brown had "bowed to the inevitable".
"It would have been incomprehensible to the general public if he had not been called to give evidence before the election along with other members of the Cabinet at the time of the decision to take military action against Iraq like Geoff Hoon and Jack Straw."
Yesterday, Justice Secretary Jack Straw became the first serving cabinet minister to give evidence to the inquiry when he sought to distance himself from Tony Blair.
Mr Straw, who was foreign secretary at the time, said he only "very reluctantly" supported military action and that he gave Mr Blair an alternative strategy the night before the crucial vote in the House of Commons.
Tony Blair is due to appear in front of the inquiry panel next week.
