Tony Blair understands why Iraq families can't forgive him

Tony Blair said he understood why some families of service personnel killed in Iraq 'can never forgive me' as he continued to defend his actions following the damning report by Sir John Chilcot into the war.

Tony Blair has tried to explain his decision on Iraq. Picture: SWNS

The former prime minister was found to have sent in forces in 2003 when there was no “imminent threat” from Saddam Hussein and on the basis of “flawed” intelligence about the Iraqi dictator’s weapons of mass destruction programme.

Mr Blair insisted the sacrifices made by British troops had not been in vain and maintained that it was right to remove Saddam from power.

He was challenged about the families of service personnel killed in the conflict, some of whom want him to face trial for war crimes.

Asked if he had considered whether that could happen, Mr Blair said: “No, but I do understand why they can’t agree with me and will never forgive me for this decision.”

The former premier has made a series of media appearances since the Chilcot Report’s publication on Wednesday in an attempt to explain the decision which has come to define his time in office.