Former PM accused of trying to delay publication of Chilcot Inquiry
Well-sourced reports suggest that it will savage his handling of the conflict
Blair has argued criticism could dent Ed Miliband’s General Election hopes
Comes as former Labour leader struggles to maintain his standing
David Cameron has piled the pressure on the growing crisis in Tony Blair’s reputation by calling for an end to hold-ups in a long-delayed report on the Iraq War. The former Prime Minister has been accused of trying to delay publication of the Chilcot Inquiry over well-sourced reports that it will savage his handling of the conflict. Now Mr Cameron has stepped into the dispute by making it clear Sir John Chilcot’s findings should be made public as soon as possible.
Under pressure: Tony Blair has been accused of trying to delay publication of the Chilcot Inquiry over well-sourced reports that it will savage his handling of the conflict
The controversy comes as Mr Blair faces an increasing struggle to retain his standing. The Mail on Sunday’s disclosure of his weekends with Rupert Murdoch’s wife Wendi Deng – and the role it played in the Murdochs’ divorce – damaged his personal image. His reputation as a statesman and businessman has also come under heavy fire.
A recent speech, during which he urged Britain to set aside its differences with Russia to fight radical Islam, was dismissed as ‘embarrassingly simple-minded’ by some experts. It led to some questioning how long he can continue as the West’s envoy to the Middle East.
And an attack on Mr Blair by his biographer Philip Stephens, published on Friday by the Financial Times, claimed he had built up a £100 million fortune since leaving Downing Street in 2007 in his ‘lust for personal riches and attention’. FULL STORY
