Blair hits back over Iraq legal advice

Tony Blair said yesterday he pledged to support the US-led invasion of Iraq despite receiving legal advice against military action, as he returned for a second appearance at Britain’s Iraq war inquiry.

The former British Prime Minister was recalled to the inquiry in London to explain discrepancies in the evidence he gave one year ago when he first testified about the decision to go into Iraq in 2003.

Around 30 protesters holding up signs saying “Bliar” rallied outside the London conference centre where the inquiry is being held as the ex-premier arrived amid heavy security and a large police presence.

Dressed in a dark suit and appearing confident, Mr Blair admitted that he should have kept the government’s top legal adviser, attorney general Peter Goldsmith, better in the loop over efforts to secure a UN resolution.

“In retrospect I would have had him alongside the negotiating team and it would have been better if he had been speaking with the American lawyers back in November 2002,” Mr Blair told the inquiry.

In a written statement to the inquiry, Mr Blair said he received advice from Goldsmith on January 14 and January 30, 2003 suggesting a further UN resolution was needed for military action to be legal.

But he insisted this was “provisional” and noted that Mr Goldsmith later changed his mind, adding that if he had not, “then the UK could not and would not have participated in the decision to remove Saddam (Hussein)”.