Blair refuses FoI request for Iraq war legal advice

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Tony Blair yesterday refused to release the full advice he received on the legality of the invasion of Iraq, in what is seen as a key test of the government's commitment to freedom of information. The prime minister rejected more than 40 requests for the information from MPs, other individuals and media organisations, including the Guardian.

He is now heading for a confrontation with the information commissioner. The advice is seen as an important test for the openness act, as it is widely believed that the attorney general, Lord Goldsmith, failed to provide a proper justification for the invasion.

In a speech last night, Lord Falconer, the constitutional affairs secretary, defended the much-predicted refusal as being "right about the advice, right about freedom of information, and right for ensuring good government for the country". He pleaded for the public not to rush to write off the Freedom of Information Act on the basis of this one case.


The battle over the advice will go on as the Guardian and others are appealing against the decision and will take the issue on to the information commissioner, Richard Thomas, to adjudicate. The Labour MP Llew Smith, who has also asked for the advice, said: "The government has failed its first test under FoI and it's sadly predictable."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardianpolitics/story/0,3605,1398492,00.html