Conflict on Iraq war advice

THE British attorney-general did not give Tony Blair a separate legal opinion on the legality of the war, Britain’s top civil servant indicated yesterday.

British cabinet secretary Andrew Turnbull said the summary given to the cabinet was the full extent of Lord Goldsmith’s advice.

He told MPs: “There is no other version.”

But that is in direct contradiction to the Butler Report into the intelligence on Saddam’s arsenal.

The report said Mr Blair’s office had asked Lord Goldsmith to put his view on the legal situation in writing which he did in a formal minute to Mr Blair 10 days before the cabinet meeting. Mr Blair is facing calls for a formal investigation for failing to show the cabinet the attorney-general’s full advice.

Lord Goldsmith gave the cabinet a presentation and a copy of his parliamentary answer about his advice. But it had been understood they were not shown the full advice before the decision was made to go to war.

The British government has consistently rejected requests to publish the full text of the attorney-general’s advice.

But Turnbull yesterday said: “There is not a longer version of that advice.”

Giving evidence to the House of Commons’ Public Administration Select Committee he said: “There is no other version. This is the definitive statement of his views.”

Sir Andrew told the committee the presentation given to the cabinet “did not purport to be a summary” of Lord Goldsmith’s advice.

“It was the definitive advice that he had reached,” he said.