The chairman of the Iraq war inquiry has rejected claims that he has been too soft on witnesses. Sir John Chilcot also denied that the committee had been too secretive.
He insisted that Tony Blair would give evidence in public, despite fears the former prime minister may be allowed to give evidence in secret on national security grounds.
In a statement made as he adjourned the inquiry for Christmas, the former senior civil servant said it was not his job to 'ambush witnesses or score points'. Earlier this week critics argued former MI6 head Sir John Scarlett was given an easy ride over how the so-called 'dodgy dossier' on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction was compiled.
But Chilcot said: "This is a serious inquiry. We are not here to provide public sport or entertainment. The whole point has been to get to the facts.
"We ask fair questions and we expect full and truthful answers and witnesses have responded to this approach by being commendably open and candid."
