More ducking and dodging

Back to Teflon Tony and the revelations earlier this week that the legal advice over the invasion of Iraq may not have been quite as unequivocal as we have been led to believe.

Tony Blair has rejected calls for the publication of advice on the legality of the Iraq war amid growing calls for an investigation.

The rumours going around at the moment can only harm the government’s already weakened credibility. How can they possibly not want to disprove stories like

In a book published this week, Philippe Sands QC, a member of Cherie Blair's Matrix Chambers, says Lord Goldsmith warned Tony Blair on 7 March 2003 that the Iraq war could be illegal without a second UN resolution sanctioning military action.

I’m not a legal expert by any means. I haven’t seen the papers and know no more than the next person, but surely if the legal advice clearly and unambiguously stated that the invasion of Iraq was perfectly acceptable (from a legal point of view anyway) what has Bliar got to fear from its publication? Would that not instantly end all this doubt and speculation, forcing people like me to shut up? The government were quick enough to publish the similarly ‘confidential’ legal advice into Charles’ marriage, and nobody really cares about that do they? So come on Tony, publish and be damned. What have you got to hide?