Brown for Iraq inquiry before election

GORDON BROWN has agreed to give evidence to the Iraq inquiry before the general election.

The Prime Minister wrote to inquiry chairman John Chilcot yesterday offering to appear as a witness next month or in March.

Mr Brown wrote: “You have proposed a range of dates in the next two months. I will be happy to agree a date which is to the convenience of the inquiry.”

The move followed mounting political pressure for Brown to face questioning before the election – due by June 3 – over claims that, as chancellor, he starved the armed forces of essential funds.

The prime minister repeatedly declared he had “nothing to hide” and was happy to give evidence any time but timetabling was a matter for the inquiry.

Chilcot had ruled the Prime Minister’s evidence, and that of Foreign Secretary David Miliband and International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander, should be delayed to keep party politics out of the probe.

Key witnesses to the inquiry have highlighted Brown’s role in Iraq policy.

Former defence secretary Geoff Hoon claimed the Treasury under Brown failed to fund the forces properly in the years before the conflict and slashed their budget following the invasion.

Tony Blair’s former spin chief Alastair Campbell said Brown was part of the “inner circle” of advisers the then-premier consulted in private on Iraq.