We Are Absolutely With You

Alastair Campbell (Tony Blair's ex spin doctor) is facing the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq war.

He has told the inquiry that Blair wrote to the US president in 2002, assuring him of Britain's support. According to Campbell the essence of the message was:

"We share the analysis.

We share the concern.

We are absolutely with you in making sure that Saddam Hussein faces up to his obligations, and that Iraq is disarmed.

If that can't be done diplomatically, and it has to done militarily, we would definitely be there.

That is the tenor of his communications with the president."

He also denied claims made by Sir Christopher Meyer, Britain's then ambassador to the US, about Blair's meeting with George Bush at Crawford in April 2002.

"If you are saying to me 'Do I agree with Christopher Meyer's analysis that at Crawford the Prime Minister shifted his position from one of containment and disarmament through the UN to one of regime change?'

I don't.

I don't accept this analysis that at Crawford there was a fundamental shift in approach and policy by the Prime Minister."

For good measure he also made sure that Gordon Brown could not wriggle free of responsibility, by noting that Blair talked to Brown a lot about Iraq.