Sir John Chilcot dead at 82: Civil servant who led the damning inquiry into Tony Blair's Iraq War dies of kidney disease
- The senior civil servant was chairman of the probe into the failings in Iraq War
- Born in Surrey, he had attended Brighton College and then Pembroke College
- Sir John’s career included being a private secretary to three home secretaries
Sir John Chilcot, who led the damning inquiry into Tony Blair’s conduct surrounding the Iraq War, has died aged 82.
The senior civil servant was chairman of the probe into the failings in the conflict, which killed 179 British personnel and tens of thousands of Iraqis.
Sir John died of kidney disease on Sunday. He is survived by wife Rosalind.
Born in Surrey, he had attended Brighton College and then Pembroke College, Cambridge, before joining the Civil Service in 1963.
Sir John’s career included working as private secretary to three home secretaries
The senior civil servant was chairman of the probe into the failings in the Iraq War
Sir John’s career included working as private secretary to three home secretaries and important contributions to the peace process in Northern Ireland.
His 2.6million-word Iraq report was long delayed, but when it was finally published in 2016 it was excoriating.
Sir John criticised Mr Blair for his handling of ‘flawed’ intelligence, for failing to plan for the aftermath of the invasion, and for secret promises given to George Bush committing Britain to the war eight months before MPs voted on it.
Most watched News videos
- Wild moment would-be mugger gets stabbed by victims
- Rishi Sunak claims he 'can't remember' his own sex education
- Gillian Keegan describes 'evidence' behind new gender education rules
- Chilling moment man follows victim before assaulting her sexually
- Father and daughter attacked by Palestine supporter at Belgian station
- Met officer found guilty of assault for manhandling woman on bus
- Man grabs huge stick to try to fend off crooks stealing his car
- Britain's 'kindest' plumber apologises after exploitation allegations
- Suspected shoplifter dragged and kicked in Sainsbury's storeroom
- Maths teacher given the nickname 'Bunda Becky' arrives at court
- 'Predator' teacher Rebecca Joynes convicted of sex with schoolboys
- Alleged airstrike hits a Russian tank causing massive explosion