Ministers urge Brown to launch Iraq inquiry

Gordon Brown is under growing pressure to order a top-level inquiry into the Iraq war.

Tory leaders joined Labour deputy leadership candidates and military families against the war in stepping up calls for an inquiry to be announced by Mr Brown soon after he succeeds Tony Blair on 27 June. Those lobbying for an investigation claim it would restore trust in government in the post-Blair era.

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The Government has been reluctant to accept the demands for an inquiry into the mistakes over Iraq, but supporters of Mr Brown believe it could help draw a line under the Blair years.

Labour deputy leadership candidates lined up to support an investigation after Alan Johnson expressed a personal belief at a hustings meeting that an inquiry would be held. Jon Cruddas, the first deputy leadership candidate to call for an inquiry said it would be "part of the reconciliation process and part of rebuilding trust in the Government".

Allies of Hilary Benn said he supported an inquiry but believed it should be delayed until the troops were withdrawn from Iraq.

Tony Blair's spokesman said the Prime Minister had conceded there may be a case for looking into the Iraq conflict, but the time was not now. "He made it clear at some point there will be a time when people will want to look at these issues again in more detail. He is clear that is not now while our troops are engaged," said the spokesman.

William Hague, the shadow foreign secretary, said the Government should announce an inquiry immediately. "It is high time the Government set up a Privy Council inquiry into the origins and conduct of the Iraq war," he said. "We have been calling for this since last October and ministers have done nothing but drag their feet."