Brown 'should share Iraq war blame'

Reuters

WAR INQUIRY: The British public believes PM Gordon Brown should share blame for the war in Iraq with previous PM Tony Blair, according to a new poll.

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The majority of the British public believes Prime Minister Gordon Brown should share the blame for the Iraq war with his predecessor Tony Blair, according to a survey.

The ComRes poll for The Independent newspaper found 60 percent of 1001 adults questioned agreed Brown should share responsibility with Blair, while 34 percent disagreed.

Just over half of Labour supporters agreed, compared with 68 percent of Conservative voters.

Brown, Chancellor at the time of the 2003 US-led invasion, is due to give evidence to a public inquiry into the Iraq war before an election due by June, a move commentators say could damage Labour at the ballot box.

The decision to go to war has been most associated with Blair. The most controversial episode of his 10-year premiership, the war sapped support for Blair and his party.

But Brown faces criticism for decisions on defence spending which critics say have hampered British operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The poll also found 37 percent of those questioned between January 29 and 31 believed Blair should be put on trial for going to war in Iraq.

- Reuters