Chilcot to 'heavily criticise' Tony Blair over Iraq war

[babsbunny]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/jul/31/chilcot-criticise-tony-blair-iraq

Official inquiry into Iraq war expected to focus on former PM's failure to consult cabinet fully in run-up to invasion

(• Failing to be open with ministers about understandings Blair reached with George Bush in the year running up to the invasion.)

Nicholas Watt, chief political correspondent
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 31 July 2011 12.12 BST

Tony Blair is likely to be criticised heavily by the official inquiry into the Iraq war, which is expected to focus on his failure to consult the cabinet fully in the run-up to the 2003 invasion.

The Mail on Sunday reports today that Sir John Chilcot, the former permanent secretary at the Northern Ireland Office who is chairing the inquiry, has identified a series of concerns. These include:

• Failing to keep cabinet ministers fully informed of Blair's plans in the run-up to the invasion in March 2003. The committee is understood to have been impressed by the criticism voiced by Lord Butler of Brockwell, the former cabinet secretary, that Blair ran a sofa government.