Chilcot's track record

I’m a little uneasy about the launch of the Iraq War Inquiry – Sir John Chilcot will set out his terms of reference later on.

It’s one of those issues which, on the face of it, is clear cut.

The inquiry should be open, witnesses should be under oath, only evidence that is a grave threat to national security should be heard in private and anyone who is relevant, including Tony Blair, should be questioned.

Unfortunately there is too much politics involved, and too much at stake for all of that to go smoothly.

Much of what happens will depend on Sir John, who also sat on the Butler Inquiry, which was lenient with Blair’s Government over the use of intelligence in the run up to war.