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PM accused of 'muzzling' Iraq inquiry
Gordon Brown has been accused of "muzzling" the Iraq inquiry after refusing to alter rules that allow Government departments to withhold crucial documents from the public.
Concerns over the agreement were raised by the Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, during Prime Minister's Questions last week. But in a letter written to Clegg, seen by The Independent, Brown has ruled out any changes to an agreement that effectively gives Whitehall the final say over which documents it will release.
The protocol agreed between the inquiry team and the Government lists nine areas in which departments can veto the publication of documents handed to the investigation. Any disagreements between Sir John Chilcot, the chairman of the inquiry, and the Government will be resolved by the Cabinet Secretary, Sir Gus O'Donnell.
"In establishing the inquiry, I wanted to make sure that it had access to all Government papers, irrespective of how sensitive or secret they might be," Brown stated. However, he confirmed that the inquiry team was under no obligation to publish documents along with its report next year. "The inquiry is independent and that is a decision it will take in due course," he said, adding that Sir Gus would continue to have the final word over disputed documents.