Tony Blair sidelined Cabinet over Iraq because he couldn’t trust ministers not to leak

[sabra]

Source: UK telegraph

Tony Blair sidelined the Cabinet over the decision to invade Iraq because he feared ministers would leak sensitive material to the press, the head of the civil service has said.

Giving evidence before the Iraq Inquiry, Sir Gus O’Donnell, the Cabinet Secretary, said that the former prime minister did not consider cabinet meetings to be a “safe place” where disagreements could be aired in private.

In his recent memoirs Mr Blair complained that supporters of Gordon Brown, the then chancellor, frequently briefed the media about confidential government matters.

The inquiry has heard that during the run-up to the 2003 invasion, the cabinet rarely discussed Iraq and ministers never received papers which were circulated between members of Mr Blair’s inner circle.

Sir Gus criticised the approach, which has been dubbed “sofa government,” saying that cabinet minister's deliberations were undermined by the lack of trust the former prime minister had in them.

"That's one of the reasons why the prime minister was reluctant at times to take as many cabinet decisions as possible: he felt that they would become very public very quickly,” he said.

Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/8288553/Tony-Blair-sidelined-Cabinet-over-Iraq-because-he-couldnt-trust-ministers-not-to-leak.html

[Enthusiast]

1. So Blair simply bypassed

democratic checks and balances in the example of his American counterpart.

[Solly Mack]

2. K&R

[Major Hogwash]

3. Hell, Blair can't be trusted. What an asshat!

Not only was he a lapdog for Bush, he is still arguing for him.

Zero credibility for Tony -- no reality show for him now!