Iraq inquiry: Tony Blair sidelined Cabinet over war

Giving evidence before the Iraq Inquiry, Sir Gus O’Donnell, the Cabinet Secretary, said that the former prime minister did not consider cabinet meetings to be a “safe place” where disagreements could be aired in private.

In his recent memoirs Mr Blair complained that supporters of Gordon Brown, the then chancellor, frequently briefed the media about confidential government matters.

The inquiry has heard that during the run-up to the 2003 invasion, the cabinet rarely discussed Iraq and ministers never received papers which were circulated between members of Mr Blair’s inner circle.