Leaders at odds on Iraq invasion

On the issue of Iraq, the most divisive issue of New Labour's reign, these great rivals were at one, even though their justification for the 2003 invasion differed.

In his evidence, Mr Blair pointed to the threat posed by any weapons of mass destruction that Saddam Hussein was developing. Yesterday, the Prime Minister said the international community had to lay down a marker to other rogue states.

Many will find it curious that Mr Blair and his then Chancellor could send troops into war with differing objectives. Presumably, Mr Brown – with an election looming – wanted to distance himself from his predecessor.

However, this strategy did not work.

By his own admission, the PM told the Chilcot inquiry that he had seen all the necessary intelligence and had not been kept in the dark by Mr Blair. If he had any doubts about the invasion, he had the opportunity to say so – or he could have followed the late Robin Cook's example and resigned from the Cabinet.

Tellingly, Mr Brown also stressed – repeatedly – that every request from the Armed Forces for funding was met by the Treasury, thereby trying to absolve himself from culpability for the deaths of those soldiers, like Sergeant Steve Roberts from West Yorkshire, who had inadequate body armour.

Yet, if Mr Brown is right, why was his long-awaited appearance before Chilcot overshadowed by a succession of reports from SAS commanders alleging that Government penny-pinching is still hampering the ability of those soldiers still fighting on the frontline?

The Prime Minister attempted to deflect this criticism by acknowledging that more needs to be done, and by blaming the Ministry of Defence for failing to implement prescribed efficiency savings rather than the Treasury's refusal

to increase the

department's budget.

In deflecting as much blame as possible, Mr Brown was also at pains to point out how he has streamlined the decision-making process in Downing Street in the future likelihood of a war; the central thrust of the Chilcot investigation.

In the meantime, the equipping of Afghanistan-bound troops needs to assume a far greater priority. This will not be achieved, however, by an escalation of the political war of words which does nothing to help those soldiers putting their lives on the line for this Government.