Tony Blair expresses regret over Iraq on BBC Radio 4 programme

Tony Blair has expressed "regret" he did not challenge intelligence about Saddam Hussein's supposed weapons of mass destruction but insisted he still believed he was right to overthrow the Iraqi dictator.

After the Chilcot report strongly criticised the way the former British prime minister took the country to war in 2003 on the basis of “flawed” intelligence with inadequate preparation, he said the world would be in a “worse position” if Saddam remained in power.

"I can regret the mistakes and I can regret many things about it but I genuinely believe, not just that we acted out of good motives, and I did what I did out of good faith, but I sincerely believe that we would be in a worse position if we hadn't acted that way. I may be completely wrong about that," he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.

“I understand that people still disagree but at least do me the respect – as I respect your position – of reading my argument.”

Following the report, Mr Blair has been put on notice by families of dead servicemen that he may face legal action.