Campbell denies dodgy role in Iraq

Giving evidence to the Chilcot inquiry on Tuesday, Mr Campbell denied he had told intelligence chiefs to "beef up or over-write" the dossier.

He said that he had given "presentational advice" to Sir John Scarlett, head of the joint intelligence committee, on the writing of the dossier but that the document itself came from "one pen" and was "100 per cent" Mr Scarlett's work.

"At no point did anybody from the prime minister down say to anybody within the intelligence services: 'You have got to tailor it to fit this judgement or that judgement.' It just never happened," he said.

Mr Campbell went on the attack over the media reporting surrounding the dossier.

A former political editor on the Robert Maxwell-era Mirror, Mr Campbell said that a "media culture" combined with the distortion and conflation of the facts was to blame for the public perception of the dossier.

He confirmed that he had written the draft for the foreword to the dossier in which Tony Blair said that he was convinced "beyond doubt" that Saddam continued to possess weapons of mass destruction.

"I defend every single word of the dossier and every single part of the process," he stated.

Earlier in his testimony, Mr Campbell told the inquiry that Gordon Brown had been closely involved in Mr Blair's discussions of Iraq in the run-up to war.

Mr Blair discussed Iraq with Mr Brown "a lot," Mr Campbell said.

"I would say Gordon Brown would have been one of the key ministers he could have spoken to regularly."

Mr Brown was "very much part of the consultations" on Iraq, he said.

Responding to Mr Campbell's comments, SNP Westminster leader and defence spokesman Angus Robertson MP said Mr Brown could not now duck questions regarding his role in the war.

"Tony Blair may have led us into an illegal war based on a dubious claim about weapons of mass destruction, but it was Gordon Brown who bankrolled it," he said.

"Before the public goes to the polls this year, they must have the chance to see and hear Gordon Brown's version of events."

Mr Brown is due to give evidence to the inquiry, after the general election. Mr Robertson said the date of his evidence must now be brought forward.

"It is utterly ridiculous that the current Prime Minister will not be held to account before the election for his actions around the war in Iraq," he concluded.