03.05.2010 Gordon Brown was "aware of what was happening" as Britain
edged closer to war with Iraq but was kept in the dark about some key developments, the inquiry heard today.
During his evidence, it also emerged Mr Brown:
* Was not shown an "options paper" drawn up by the Cabinet Office
in March 2002;
* Did not know attorney general Lord Goldsmith had wavered on a decision to give legal backing for the war;
* Had not seen private letters sent by Mr Blair to US president George Bush assuring British support for any military action;
* Was not present at all war cabinet meetings.
Mr Brown insisted that Cabinet had been "informed fully" about the process of negotiations ahead of the invasion. >>>>>
Brown blames US over Iraq reconstruction errors
Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown arrives at Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in London, Friday March 5, 2010, to give evidence at the Iraq inquiry in London, which is investigating the circumstances surrounding British involvement in the Iraq war. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
03.05.2010
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown insisted on Friday that the decision to invade Iraq was correct, testifying to an inquiry on the war that deposing Saddam Hussein was justified - despite the loss of lives.
In testimony before a looming national election in the UK, Brown praised the sacrifices of soldiers and civilians, but acknowledged mistakes had been made by leaders in Washington and London over the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. He sharply criticized the United States over failing to heed British warnings over postwar chaos, and dismissed claims he choked military budgets, sending British soldiers to war without adequate equipment.
Brown immediately addressed a critical question: did he agree with the decision of his predecessor, Tony Blair, to go to war? >>>>>
Brown is at his best with his back to the wall - as he was today at Iraq inquiry
Gordon Brown answers questions at the Iraq inquiry today. Photograph: Press Association
03.05.2010 This was Good Gordon as opposed to Bad Brown: firm in his views, unwavering in asserting that the cabinet had been right to back the war - and that he had never let the army down
Amazing. It is an old Westminster cliche that Gordon Brown is best when his back is pressed against the wall, a political dagger at his throat. So it has been today during his two public sessions before the Chilcot inquiry panel.
For days now voters have been inundated with stories about Bad Brown, the panicky, self-pitying bully described by Andrew Rawnsley in his new book, The End of the Party. I can recognise that picture. But I also know his alter ego, Good Gordon, the intelligent master of detail, the man whose poll ratings are rising against the odds.
It was Good Gordon whom we all saw on TV today, ducking and weaving to be sure, sidestepping awkward questions, but firm in his views, unwavering in asserting that the cabinet had been right to back the war in 2003 - and that he had never let down the army in the field, let alone undermined the MoD's budget at a time of war. >>>>>
Highlights - Brown appears before Iraq War inquiry
Prime Minister Gordon Brown appeared on Friday before a public inquiry into Britain's role in the Iraq War.
Following are key quotes from Brown's session before the five-person panel: >>>>>
'The families are more interested in seeing Tony Blair held to account'
03.05.2010 Owen Bowcott talks to protesters at the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq war as Gordon Brown gives evidence
A protester dressed as the Grim Reaper demonstrates as Gordon Brown gives evidence to the Iraq inquiry. Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images
A protester dressed as Death, wearing a black cape and displaying a chancellor's briefcase filled with war tax notes, stood outside the Chilcot inquiry in London this morning as Gordon Brown walked in, smiling.
There was a ragged chant of "Gordon Brown - to The Hague" from anti-war demonstrators demanding justice for the Iraq conflict in the international courts.
Far fewer of them, however, turned out than on the day when Tony Blair was called to give his account to the inquiry.
Relatives of only one of the 179 British servicemen and women killed in the conflict were understood to be attending today's hearing at the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre, in Westminster, central London.
"The families came down for the Blair hearing, whereas Brown is not as politically culpable as Blair," said Andrew Burgin, a spokesman for the organisation Military Families against the War, which campaigned for the public inquiry. >>>>>
Brown Denies Restricting Funds For Military
03.05.2010 Gordon Brown has denied claims he tried to restrict the money available to the military in the run-up to the Iraq war.
The-then Chancellor told the Iraq Inquiry that former Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon's assertion the Treasury was reluctant to provide cash for the conflict was incorrect.
"There should be no sense that there was any financial restraint in doing what was best for the military," he told Sir John Chilcot's committee.
"We had to support the military decision that was made and not rule out any option on financial grounds."
Mr Brown said the Iraq war cost Britain about £1bn a year, with the total bill to the Treasury totalling some £8 billion. >>>>>
Gordon Brown at Iraq inquiry - reaction
03.05.2010 Responses to the prime minister's testimony to the Chilcot inquiry today
Rose Gentle, whose son Gordon, 19, was killed in Iraq in June 2004
He at least had the decency to pay tribute to the troops; Tony Blair completely snubbed the families [of the troops]. I can't complain about Brown doing that. But I felt like we were not getting much from him - he didn't seem to be forthcoming. >>more>>>
George Galloway, Respect MP for Bethnal Green and Bow and outspoken critic of the war
It was as anticlimactic as Gordon Brown's long coveted ascension to No 10 has become. >>more>>>
Professor Paul Kelly, head of government department at the London School of Economics
He's obviously prepared - anyone can see [that] from the opening statement and tribute to the troops who died. He obviously decided not to fall into the Blair trap. It's familiar Brown territory, to answer different questions [to those he was asked]. >>more>>> >>>>>
`Lives lost as Brown held back funds'
THE lives of British soldiers were lost in Iraq and Afghanistan because Gordon Brown failed to fund the army properly when he was chancellor, a former chief of the defence staff said last night as Britain's Prime Minister fronted the nation's inquiry into the Iraq war.
Mr Brown was to testify before the inquiry on mistakes made over the Iraq war, a potentially embarrassing session before a looming national election.
The British leader, who served as Treasury chief from 1997 to 2007 and approved military spending, was due to give about four hours of evidence to the five-person panel, watched in an inquiry room by relatives of those killed in the US-led conflict. >>>>>
Brown says he did not restrict Iraq funding
Gordon Brown has told the Chilcot Inquiry that he did not restrict defence funds for the frontline during the Iraq war.
When asked about funding the Prime Minister said: "There should be no sense that there was any financial restraint in doing what was best for the military.
"We had to support the military decision that was made and not rule out any option on financial grounds."
Mr Brown defended his record as Chancellor, saying: "I said that every single request for equipment had to be met and every request was met.
"At any point, commanders were able to ask for equipment that they needed and I know of no occasion when they were turned down."
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