Blair returns to storm over WMD evidence
The Prime Minister is facing a growing storm around the issue of Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction today as he returns from the G8 Summit in France.
Tony Blair flatly rejects claims that Downing Street ‘manipulated’ evidence to provide a stronger case for attacking Iraq.
However, no conclusive proof of the alleged weapons has yet emerged and rumours have circulated that the Government exaggerated the threat posed by Iraq to convince sceptics.
The threat from Iraq’s supposed chemical and biological weapons programmes was used as the main argument for invading the Middle East state.
Backbench MPs have started to question the Government’s honesty and outbursts against the Prime Minister from influential former Cabinet ministers Clare Short and Robin Cook have increased the pressure on Downing Street.
Mr Blair calls on rebel MPs to provide proof to back the accusations, but Mr Cook asked how much evidence the Prime Minister wanted, saying: ‘He said that there were weapons that could be used in 45 minutes. There are no such weapons.’
More than 50 Labour MPs have already signed a Commons motion drafted by leading rebel MP Peter Kilfolye, calling on the Government to publish the evidence behind the dossier, a call backed by the Liberal Democrats. Even the Conservative Party, which was firmly behind the war, has started to question the Government over allegations of ‘spin’ regarding the banned weapons evidence.
Ministers have already admitted the 45-minute claim was based on information from a single unconfirmed source.
Mr Blair insists that he is standing squarely behind the statements he made in the run up to the war and denies claims by ex-international development secretary Ms Short that he had struck a secret deal last September with President George Bush to invade Iraq.
He has expressed confidence that the WMD will emerge, calling for ‘patience’ as the search for the purported weaponry continues.
