Hague casts doubt on Labour government’s ‘chumminess’ with the Libyan dictator

He backed the “overall” approach of Tony Blair’s administration in transforming relations with the despot and said there had been “many benefits”, including the Lockerbie bombing trial and changes in Libya’s policy on weapons of mass destruction. But he told the Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee the links looked to have “gone too far”.

“I don’t criticise the overall approach of seeking relations with Libya which led to a change in Libya’s behaviour,” he said. “I think that, overall, was the right approach. Then, of course, there is scope for argument about what you might regard as the chumminess of the situation.”

He added: “I think some of the things that have been said about the extent of links with members of the Gaddafi family, particularly in retrospect, look to have gone too far and it would have been better if ministers had not gone so far at the time.

“But, overall, the intention to be able to deal and be able to work to some extent with the Gaddafi regime and to change his behaviour, which required some degree of contact with the regime, was the right thing for the last government to do.”

Meanwhile, the government will spend £140 million buying new bombs to replace those dropped on Libya, the defence secretary announced last night.

Liam Fox said the Treasury reserve, money kept aside from routine budgets, will fund the cost of the explosives.

He said: “Based upon current consumption rates, we estimate the cost of replenishing munitions may be up to £140m. The Treasury has agreed to meet these costs from the reserve.”

The RAF and Royal Navy waged a campaign on Libyan targets as part of a coalition enforcing a United Nations security resolution in March.