BROWN WAS ‘BEGGED BY BLAIR’ TO HOLD WAR INQUIRY IN SECRET

But Mr Blair is said to have told the Prime Minister he was worried about giving evidence on oath – and also feared revealing the truth about intelligence reports and secret conversations with US President George Bush.

Signing on to American plans to topple Saddam Hussein amid false claims that the Iraqi dictator was developing weapons of mass destruction was the most controversial decision of Mr Blair’s time at Number 10.

Giving a full picture of what happened could mean Mr Blair revealing details he is planning to keep secret until his memoirs – for which he received £5million – are published.

A spokesman for the former Labour leader said: “This was a decision for the current prime minister, not for Tony Blair.”

Despite suggestions of a U-turn, Mr Brown’s decision to hold the inquiry in public attracted more criticism from ministers yesterday. Transport Minister Sadiq Khan said that it looked awful.