The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
956.
Lord
Goldsmith’s requests to Mr Straw on 18 October and
Mr Blair
on 22
October, to be invited to meetings and “to be kept closely
informed
of
developments”, which would have allowed him to be more involved
in
discussions
about the resolution and the policy behind it, were not
followed
up by Mr Straw
or Mr Blair.
957.
Despite
agreement in July that Mr Blair and Lord Goldsmith should
discuss
his advice
in September, that discussion did not take place until 22
October.
958.
The meeting
took place as a result of Lord Goldsmith raising his
concerns
with
Mr Powell and Mr Straw.
959.
Key
decisions on the resolution had already been taken and the draft
was
at an
advanced stage.
960.
In his
statement for the Inquiry, Lord Goldsmith wrote that he was not
sufficiently
involved in
the Ministerial meetings and discussions about the resolution and
the policy
behind it.
He had told:
•
Mr Straw
on 18 October that he should be present at “any meetings between
the
Prime
Minister, the Foreign Secretary and others at which decisions on
the use
of force
were made”; and
•
Mr Blair
in the meeting on 22 October that that it would be important for
him
“to be
kept closely informed of developments”. He had made it clear that
he
“was available
for a further meeting with the Prime Minister at any
time”.350
961.
After that,
Lord Goldsmith was not invited to key meetings to discuss the
UK’s
negotiating
strategy and the implications of changes to the draft
resolution.
962.
There were
inconsistencies about the level of involvement expected
from
Lord
Goldsmith.
963.
His advice
was sought in the early stages of the development of the
draft
resolution,
but from late‑September onwards that was not the case.
964.
In his
statement Lord Goldsmith wrote that there “was an inconsistent
approach
within
Government about the level of engagement that was expected” from
him.351
965.
In the period
between his meeting with Mr Blair on 22 October and his
“telephone
call” with
Mr Straw on 7 November, his “views were not sought”; and
“During that period
… important
changes [to the draft resolution] occurred.”352
350
Statement,
4 January 2011, paragraph 1.9.
351
Statement,
4 January 2011, paragraph 1.11.
352
Statement,
4 January 2011, paragraph 1.2.
370