Butler 'satisfied' with war probe

FORMER Cabinet Secretary Lord Butler today said he was "satisfied" he was not prevented from properly investigating the run-up to war in Iraq by his inquiry’s tight terms of reference.

Following the July publication of the Butler Report, there were complaints that it held back from passing judgement on policy decisions made by Tony Blair.

Liberal Democrats refused to take part in the inquiry because of its narrow focus on the gathering and analysis of intelligence on Iraq’s supposed weapons of mass destruction, rather than the political use made of information. Tory leader Michael Howard withdrew support after initially backing the inquiry.

However, speaking to the House of Commons Public Administration Committee today, Lord Butler said his report had set out these facts but held back from passing judgement on them.