Date set as Tony Blair to face Iraq Inquiry next Friday

Tony Blair is to make his long awaited appearance before the Iraq Inquiry on Friday of next week it was announced today.

His appearance will be preceded on Wednesday next week by the former Attorney General Lord Goldsmith, who issued the controversial advice that military action against Iraq was legal.

Other key witnesses appearing next week will be Elizabeth Wilmshurst, the former Foreign Office legal adviser who quit in protest at the invasion, who appears on Tuesday.

Two former defence secretaries, Des Browne and John Hutton will give evidence on Monday while former foreign secretary Margaret Beckett will be appearing on Tuesday.