Blair’s Iraq war exchanges with Bush to be published

Sensitive extracts of exchanges between Tony Blair and George Bush in the run-up to the Iraq war are to be published, although the full versions will remain secret.

Years of negotiations over the release of the “vital” material, which includes 25 notes from Mr Blair to Mr Bush and more than 130 records of conversations between the former UK prime minister and then US president, is understood to have been behind the delay in publication of a long-awaited report by a British inquiry into the invasion.

Under the agreement, the information being disclosed will be limited to “quotes or gists” and the inquiry’s use of the material “should not reflect president Bush’s views”.

The deal was struck by the British government's top civil servant Sir Jeremy Heywood, who was principal private secretary to Mr Blair in 10 Downing Street in the run-up to the war, and inquiry chairman Sir John Chilcot.

In a letter, Sir John told the Cabinet Secretary: “My colleagues and I judge that this material is vital to the public understanding of the inquiry’s conclusions.”

‘Minimum necessary’

He said use of direct quotation from the documents “should be the minimum necessary to enable the inquiry to articulate its conclusions”.

Sir John said some “potential gaps” in material had been identified which had now been addressed, “including some material received by the inquiry very recently”.

The inquiry completed public hearings in 2011 and yesterday’s announcement comes amid mounting criticism over the delay the report’s release. The date of publication is yet to be agreed. – (PA)