Lord Goldsmith's doubts 'did not stop commitment to US'

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair is being questioned for a second time by the Iraq inquiry about his role in the lead-up to the 2003 war.

Asked if Lord Goldsmith's legal doubts constrained him from making a commitment to the US, Mr Blair said "No".

Airing legal doubts to the US at that time would have damaged the coalition and encouraged Saddam, Mr Blair suggested.

The former prime minister told the inquiry: "I believe if I started to articulate this, in a sense saying 'I cannot be sure', the effect of that on the Americans, the coalition and most importantly on Saddam would have been dramatic."