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Iraq Inquiry

I have said that I want to get through this section of my speech; then I will bring in my hon. Friend. Perhaps I will anticipate some of her questions. Again, that is an issue on which it is right and proper to leave the discretion to Sir John and his colleagues. In respect of the old canard about whether Tony Blair is willing to stand up in public and defend his decisions on the Iraq war, during a question-and-answer session last night—I am not sure whether it was a continuation of the masochism strategy that was started in 2005—he said, "I don't know how many times I have answered questions about Iraq in public, including now. There is no problem for me in answering questions in public." That is a canard.