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1137 Sir Lawrence Freedman suggests the 45-minute claim was reported in a “misleading” way, losing its “specificity and gaining a broader meaning”. Mr Blair says it would have been better to have corrected it, given the importance it subsequently took on. This was the subject of the Hutton inquiry, which reported in 2004, he tells the panel.

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1134 On to the September 2002 dossier, claiming Saddam had WMDs he could mobilise within 45 minutes of giving an order. Mr Blair says this was to do with short-range chemical munitions. The words later took on “far greater significance”, he adds.

Sir Lawrence Freedman
1132 Sir Lawrence Freedman suggests Iraq was chosen for “exemplary effect”, as it could be tackled via a United Nations route. Mr Blair says the focus on Iraq was because Saddam had used WMDs during the Iran-Iraq war and on his own people.

1131 Panel member Sir Lawrence Freedman asks why Iraq was chosen, rather than Iran, for action. Mr Blair says Iraq was in breach of UN resolutions on WMDs.

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TimEmerton tweets: I think Blair must be delighted so far. Alastair Campbell will be so proud… he’s not forgotten any tricks of the trade.

GregorySharpe tweets: re Mark C, Leeds. You’ll find the ‘clear majority’ supporting the war did so believing the dossier put before Parliament.

rorybrown tweets: Blair is still very impressive. Really highlights the shambles that has followed.

e-mail sent in by reader
To those who think that the enquiry is being easy on Tony Blair: what I can see is the enquiry digging a hole for Blair towards which he seems to be rapidly walking…
Richard

He is looking nervous, but has anyone (poker players out there) noticed what his tell is?? I can’t work it out yet…
Lewis, Cambridge

Iain Watson
1129 From BBC political correspondent Iain Watson: Tony Blair is perhaps trying to get some coverage for his current views rather than simply his justification for his past actions. Time and again he talks of the potential threat from Iran.

1128 Mr Blair says that, in 2002, he felt weapons of mass destruction held by Saddam would be a threat to the UK.

1126 Mr Blair says the “link” between Saddam and al-Qaeda – which previous inquiries have suggested did not exist – was that highly suppressed and failing states become “porous” and easier for terror groups to infiltrate. The link between this problem and failing states having WMDs could make them more dangerous, he tells the panel.

Iain Watson
1125 From BBC political correspondent Iain Watson: Tony Blair agrees with the previous Butler inquiry conclusion that intelligence on WMD was sporadic and patchy but in effect argues that because of the “wicked” nature of Saddam’s regime it was more of a threat than more benign regimes that were also thought to have had such weapons.

1124 Saddam had used WMDs and “definitely had them”, Mr Blair says. It would have required much evidence to put the supposed programme to develop more WMDs (weapons of mass destruction) into doubt, he adds.

1122 Mr Blair says there are many regimes he would “like to see the back of”, but there has to be a basis of a security threat to the UK. The assessment of this threat was intimately connected to the nature of Saddam’s regime, which had used chemical weapons on Kurds, he adds. Mr Blair calls Saddam “wicked” and possibly “psycopathic”.

1120 Another panel member, historian Sir Martin Gilbert, asks about WMDs. Had little changed, in terms of security evidence, he inquires. Mr Blair says it was “always relevant to me” that the nature of the regime made a difference to the nature of the WMD “threat”.

1117 Mr Blair says that, if it was right to conduct a military campaign, it was right for Britain to be involved. It was best, in such a case, to be “right alongside” the US. If war is thought to be right, the UK “should be prepared to play our part fully”, Mr Blair adds.

e-mail sent in by reader
Re Mike Leeds: It is also likely that those against in these posts were also against the war back to when you refer… Being a good public speaker does not automatically make what that person says is correct… or even true.
Luke, Northampton

1115 Mr Blair is asked about “packages” discussed, in terms of the efforts to be made in the event of military action and how he weighed up the risks to personnel. Mr Blair said he asked the military, who were “up for doing it”, if war was to happen.

1113 Mr Blair says military action possibilities were discussed at that Crawford meeting with President Bush in April 2002.

Tony Blair
1112 After a break which over-ran the original estimate of about 15 minutes, the evidence is about to start again. Mr Blair is back in his seat.

1111 One of the people watching Mr Blair’s performance via video link in another room of the Queen Elizabeth II centre has been escorted out after proclaiming “I can’t stomach any more of this”, the BBC learns.

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mrbry tweets: This is unreal. “We’ll come to that…” Blair has now taken over the role of chairman at his own interrogation.

ArtisanMelly tweets: Blair’s not doing a very good job selling the ‘its been tough but for the best’ viewpoint. He looks nervous and unconvincing.

MatthewEyre tweets: I still believe this inquiry is largely useless, but it has been interesting, it does almost feel trial-like. Blair largely performing well.

1108 The number of protesters gathered in Westminster has “dwindled somewhat”, the BBC’s Tom Symonds reports. But more are expected to gather towards the end of today’s hearing.

e-mail sent in by reader
Nice to see some balance in the BBC’s coverage. I take it you’re not receiving anything but anti-Blair comments so they’re the only ones you can publish. And, re MJ Dolan Manchester; if millions disagreed with him then how was he elected for a third term more than two years after the invasion with a 66 seat majority? I think you’ll find it’s called democracy.
Lawrence Kershaw, London

It’s amazing what hindsight does to a number of people. While there was an opposition to the war, there seemed a clear majority that backed our forces and decisions to go in to Iraq. I’m quite enjoying Tony showing again how good a public speaker he is.
Mike C, Leeds

I thought Iraq was a secular state under Saddam Hussein, so what has he to do with 9/11 and Islamic Fundamentalism?
Steven Danesi, London

Angus Robertson
1104 The SNP’s Westminster leader, Angus Robertson, tells the BBC: “Tony Blair led the country into the worst foreign policy disaster of modern times… Blair says force was ‘always an option’. The key issue is when the decision was made for that ‘option’ to become a grim reality.”

1103 BBC political correspondent Laura Kuenssberg says Mr Blair has dismissed the idea that he and President Bush had reached a “deal in blood” at the Crawford ranch to back military action. She says she is “struck” by how often Mr Blair has mentioned 9/11.

1100 At Westminster, one man, believed to be an anti-war protester, has been taken away by police, the BBC learns.

e-mail sent in by reader
Why are we back to linking Iraq with 9/11? This is just running in circles…
Ed, Cambridge

Watching his performance, it’s not working for him this time. He’s like a rabbit in the headlights. Very nervous and defensive. I think that says it all really.
Chic, Leicester

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arge1 tweets: Did I mention Kosovo? That was a great war! Sorry did I mention Kosovo?

Floppy tweets: Hm, it really doesn’t matter if you thought it was right or not.

ajlaw13 tweets: Blair can be quite icy when he wants to be. “I don’t think he (Sir Christopher Meyer) was there at the critical meeting, in fact”. Snap.

Iain Watson
1052 From BBC political correspondent Iain Watson: Tony Blair suggests there may be a forward looking – though, for some, not necessarily welcome – aspect to the inquiry – that it is important to learn the lessons of Iraq because of the current problems with Iran; and the suspicion they are developing a nuclear weapons programme.

e-mail sent in by reader
He’s flannelling, trying to mix 9/11 with Islamic fundamentalism and WMD. Saddam was not involved in 9/11, had no weapons of mass destruction and was opposed to Islamic fundamentalism. He’s trying to confuse and succeeding!
Mike Griffiths, Derbyshire

1051 After 80 minutes, the inquiry is taking its first break for the day. The panel should return at about 1105 GMT