Lord Goldsmith got taxpayer help for Iraq war inquiry legal advice

[Turborama]

Source: The Guardian

The former attorney general Lord Goldsmith has received legal advice from public funds to help him prepare his evidence tomorrow to the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq war, the Guardian has learned.

His request for help emerged today after the inquiry heard damning evidence about how under strong pressure from ministers, notably the then foreign secretary Jack Straw, Goldsmith changed his mind about the legality of the war at the last minute, saying it was lawful after all.

David Brummell, Goldsmith's most senior adviser, told the inquiry that Straw was "duly grateful" when he heard that the attorney general had changed his position.

A spokesperson for the attorney general, Lady Scotland, said today that Goldsmith had help preparing for his testimony from a barrister contracted to work for him by the Treasury solicitors. In a statement, her office said that like other witnesses he had been provided with "basic legal support" as the inquiry originally proposed.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jan/27/goldsmith-iraq-war-chilcot-inquiry

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Looks like he knows the shit is about to hit the fan.

Do they give free legal advice in the Hague?

http://www.iraqinquiry.org.uk/">Live video stream of the inquiry

The Inquiry's site also has http://www.iraqinquiry.org.uk/transcripts.aspx">videos & transcripts of all previous hearings

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1. Lord Goldsmith at the Iraq war inquiry - live

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/blog/2010/jan/27/iraq-war-inquiry-iraq'
11.08am: Here are the main points so far.

• Sir John Chilcot said that he was "frustrated" about not being allowed to publish classified government documents. Lord Goldsmith also said there were documents relating to his evidence which he would like to see published but which the government has refused to declassify. (See 10.24am)

• Goldsmith said that when he told Tony Blair in 2002 that Blair would need a UN resolution to justify war against Iraq, his advice was "not terribly welcome". (See 10.29am)

• Goldsmith said that he orginally thought it would be up to the UN security council - not individual governments - to decide whether Iraq was in material breach of UN resolutions. (See 10.09am)

• Goldsmith says that, on the basis of the intelligence briefing he received in the summer of 2002, he concluded that Iraq did not pose an imminent threat to the UK. (See 10.14am)

• He said that he should have been more involved in the 1441 negotiations. (See 10.44am)

• He said that the French privately told the Americans after 1441 was adopted that there was no need for a second resolution if the Americans wanted to go to war.



Goldsmith frustrated over classified Iraq war papers
The former attorney general Lord Goldsmith today strongly criticised the refusal of the Government to make public key documents relating to the Iraq war.

Giving evidence to the official inquiry into the conflict, he expressed "frustration" that crucial documents were not being declassified.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/goldsmith-frustrated-over-classified-iraq-war-papers-1880448.html