Chilcot report should lay allegations of ‘bad faith, lies or deceit’ to rest, says Blair

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Tony Blair says the finding of the Chilcot report should lay allegations of “bad faith, lies or deceit” to rest.

However, he acknowledged the report’s criticism of the planning and process of invasion and said he would take full responsibility for any mistakes.

Sir John Chilcot’s report into the Iraq war, which was published today, is critical of the government for going to war before all non-military options were exhausted and for its lack of planning for handling the consequences of the invasion.

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Former prime minister Tony Blair responded to the report, saying: “The report should lay to rest allegations of bad faith, lies or deceit.

“Whether people agree or disagree with my decision to take military action against Saddam Hussein; I took it in good faith and in what I believed to be the best interests of the country.”

He highlights a number of areas in the report that there was “no falsification or improper use of intelligence”, “no deception of Cabinet” and “no secret commitment to war”.

However, he notes that the report “does make real and material criticisms of preparation, planning, process and of the relationship with the United States”. 

Blair said: “These are serious criticisms and they require serious answers. I will respond in detail to them later this afternoon. I will take full responsibility for any mistakes without exception or excuse.

“I will at the same time say why, nonetheless, I believe that it was better to remove Saddam Hussein and why I do not believe this is the cause of the terrorism we see today whether in the Middle East or elsewhere in the world. 

“Above all I will pay tribute to our armed forces. I will express my profound regret at the loss of life and the grief it has caused the families, and I will set out the lessons I believe future leaders can learn from my experience.”

Labour MP Frank Field, who served as a minister under Tony Blair, said: “What is clear is the incompetence of Tony Blair in launching a war and having no plan for the day after the Iraqi regime was overthrown.

“That gigantic political error resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Iraqis, as well as 179 British soldiers, and regional chaos. The Middle East has been thrown into chaos.

“Tony Blair maintains he has nothing to apologise for. If this record isn't one which warrants an apology, it's difficult to think what is.”

Former first minister Alex Salmond said: "After such carnage, people will ask inevitable questions of was conflict inevitable and worthwhile? The answer from Chilcot is undoubtedly no.

"And who is responsible? The answer is undoubtedly Tony Blair. There must now be a consideration of what political or legal consequences are appropriate for those responsible."