The Report of the Iraq Inquiry

diplomatic strategy, in future such a group will operate formally as an ad hoc Cabinet

Committee”.149

255. The Ad Hoc Ministerial Group on Iraq (AHGI) met for the first time on

16 September 2004, chaired by Mr Blair.150 It was established “to ensure the UK

government approach to Iraq was fully co-ordinated in the period up to Iraqi elections in

January 2005”. Mr Blair intended that the Group should meet regularly.

256. Mr Blair wrote a note to his Private Secretary on 25 February 2005 instructing

that Mr Straw be “put in charge” of the AHGI and asked to minute him each week with

actions on “eg reconstruction in the South; Sunni outreach; progress on security plan”.151

257. On 10 March, in his first meeting as Chair, Mr Straw explained that Mr Blair “had

asked a core group of Ministers to meet on a weekly basis to focus more closely on the

delivery of policy in Iraq”.152

258. On 18 March, Mr Blair reminded Mr Quarrey: “I need J[ack] S[traw] to do me a note

each week on progress (to keep him at it).”153

259. Mr Straw’s first report to Mr Blair, dated 24 March, covered the first three

meetings154 of the AHGI.155

260. Sir Nigel Sheinwald told the Inquiry that the AHGI was set up “briefly” in order to

“give extra urgency to Whitehall work ahead of the Iraqi elections”.156 That was “very

complicated” and so, after the UK General Election in May 2005, arrangements were

“simplified” and a new Committee was established.

261. The Iraq Sub-Committee of the Ministerial Committee on Defence and Overseas

Policy (DOP(I)) met for the first time on 26 May 2005, chaired by Mr Blair.157 It continued

to meet until Mr Blair stood down as Prime Minister in June 2007.

262. DOP(I) replaced the AHGI, which ceased to meet.

149 Cabinet Office, Review on Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction: Implementation of its

Conclusions, March 2005, Cm 6492, page 11.

150 Minutes, 16 September 2004, Ad Hoc Ministerial Group on Iraq meeting.

151 Manuscript comment Blair on Minute Quarrey to Prime Minister, 25 February 2005, ‘Iraq Update’.

152 Minutes, 10 March 2005, Ad Hoc Ministerial Group on Iraq meeting.

153 Manuscript comment Blair on minute Quarrey to Prime Minister, 18 March 2005, ‘Iraq Update’.

154 Held on 10 March 2005; 17 March 2005; 24 March 2005.

155 Minute Straw to Prime Minister, 24 March 2005, ‘Iraq: Ad Hoc Ministerial Meetings’.

156 Public hearing, 16 December 2009, page 12.

157 Minutes, 26 May 2005, DOP(I) meeting.

308